Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating effects of eco-driving at traffic intersections based on traffic micro-simulation

Eco-driving is an initiative driving behavior which aims to reduce fuel consumption and emissions from automobiles. Recently, it has attracted increasing interests and has been adopted by many drivers in Australia. Although many of the studies have revealed considerable benefits in terms of fuel consumption and emissions after utilising eco-driving, most of the literature investigated eco-driving effects on individual driver but not traffic flow. The driving behavior of eco-drivers will potentially affect other drivers and thereby affects the entire traffic flow. To comprehensively assess and understand how effectively eco-driving can perform, therefore, measurement on traffic flow is necessary. In this paper, we proposed and demonstrated an evaluation method based on a microscopic traffic simulator (Aimsun). We focus on one particular eco-driving style which involves moderate and smooth acceleration. We evaluated both traffic performance (travel time) and environmental performance (fuel consumption and CO2 emission) at traffic intersection level in a simple simulation model. The before-and-after comparisons indicated potentially negative impacts when using eco-driving, which highlighted the necessity to carefully evaluate and improve eco-driving before wide promotion and implementation.
Neurophysiology of Robot-Mediated Training and Therapy: A Perspective for Future Use in Clinical Populations

The recovery of functional movements following injury to the central nervous system (CNS) is multifaceted and is accompanied by processes occurring in the injured and non-injured hemispheres of the brain or above/below a spinal cord lesion. The changes in the CNS are the consequence of functional and structural processes collectively termed neuroplasticity and these may occur spontaneously and/or be induced by movement practice. The neurophysiological mechanisms underlying such brain plasticity may take different forms in different types of injury, for example stroke vs. spinal cord injury (SCI). Recovery of movement can be enhanced by intensive, repetitive, variable, and rewarding motor practice. To this end, robots that enable or facilitate repetitive movements have been developed to assist recovery and rehabilitation. Here, we suggest that some elements of robot-mediated training such as assistance and perturbation may have the potential to enhance neuroplasticity. Together the elemental components for developing integrated robot-mediated training protocols may form part of a neurorehabilitation framework alongside those methods already employed by therapists. Robots could thus open up a wider choice of options for delivering movement rehabilitation grounded on the principles underpinning neuroplasticity in the human CNS.
Antioxidative enzymes in human hearts with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

The present study investigates intracellular enzymatic pathways involved in the elimination of reactive oxygen species in the left ventricular myocardium of 10 individuals without heart failure and 12 patients with end-stage heart failure due to idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Left ventricular enzyme activities, mRNA and protein levels of the hydrogen peroxide scavenging enzymes catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and the superoxide anion scavenging enzymes mitochondrial (Mn-SOD) and cytosolic (Cu/Zn-SOD) superoxide dismutases were measured. In failing myocardium, there was a significant decrease in CAT activity (4.83+/-0.32 U/mg v 6.59+/-0.52, P<0.01) despite unchanged mRNA expression and protein levels. GPX, Mn-SOD and Cu/Zn-SOD were similar concerning activity, mRNA and protein levels. As indirect free radical markers, similar levels of the products of lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxy-alkenals, and similar tissue nitrotyrosin content were measured. The decrease in CAT activity appears to be a post-transcriptional mechanism. A decreased myocardial capacity to scavenge hydrogen peroxide might lead to a shift in the intracellular redox balance which potentially results in activation of redox sensitive signalling pathways. Direct reactive oxygen species mediated damage was not detected by the methods applied.
Hybrid polymer/thin film impedance system for label free monitoring of cells

Impedance measurements (capacitive cytometry) have been used to perform label-free analysis of cells. Two devices were constructed using a simple liquid photopolymerization technique known as /spl mu/FluidicTectonics. This platform has made it possible to rapidly fabricate with great ease and without the use of traditional MEMS technology a cell impedance measurement system. Measurements were made using not only a single 1 kHz frequency but also a frequency sweep from 50 Hz to 20 kHz. Single frequency measurements on SP2 mouse cells showed show that there is a strong, linear relationship between the DNA content of individual cells and their dielectric (or capacitance) response to a 1 kHz field. Frequency sweeps were conducted on SF9 cells as means to perform diagnostic measurements of the device when different number of cells are present.
Gefitinib (ZD1839) increases the efficacy of cisplatin in ovarian cancer cells

We examined the effect of gefitinib (ZD1839), a selective epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on cytotoxicity to cisplatin, EGFR downstream signaling, apoptosis and the association between the inhibition of DNA repair by gefitinib and the expression of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) using three ovarian cancer cell lines. In the presence of gefitinib, cisplatin-induced growth inhibition and apoptosis were significantly enhanced in Caov-3 and RMG-1 cells, which express EGFR, and in A2780, which lacks EGFR but expresses HER-2. Gefitinib significantly inhibited the cisplatin-induced ERK and Akt activation in Caov-3 and RMG-1 cells but not in A2780 cells. In all three cell lines, there was delayed repair of DNA intrastrand cross-links damaged by cisplatin used in combination with gefitinib, compared with cisplatin alone. The reduction in DNA-PK levels persisted when cells were exposed to combinations of cisplatin and gefitinib in all cell lines. Moreover, the delayed repair was cancelled by anti-HER2 small-interfering RNA transfection in A2780 cells. These results suggest that combination therapy with cisplatin and gefitinib may increase the therapeutic efficacy of cisplatin by blocking EGFR downstream signaling and/or inhibiting DNA repair in ovarian cancer.
Natural Modulators of Endosomal Toll-Like Receptor-Mediated Psoriatic Skin Inflammation

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that can be initiated by excessive activation of endosomal toll-like receptors (TLRs), particularly TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9. Therefore, inhibitors of endosomal TLR activation are being investigated for their ability to treat this disease. The currently approved biological drugs adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab, ustekinumab, ixekizumab, and secukizumab are antibodies against effector cytokines that participate in the initiation and development of psoriasis. Several immune modulatory oligonucleotides and small molecular weight compounds, including IMO-3100, IMO-8400, and CPG-52364, that block the interaction between endosomal TLRs and their ligands are under clinical investigation for their effectiveness in the treatment of psoriasis. In addition, several chemical compounds, including AS-2444697, PF-05387252, PF-05388169, PF-06650833, ML120B, and PHA-408, can inhibit TLR signaling. Although these compounds have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity in animal models, their therapeutic potential for the treatment of psoriasis has not yet been tested. Recent studies demonstrated that natural compounds derived from plants, fungi, and bacteria, including mustard seed, Antrodia cinnamomea extract, curcumin, resveratrol, thiostrepton, azithromycin, and andrographolide, inhibited psoriasis-like inflammation induced by the TLR7 agonist imiquimod in animal models. These natural modulators employ different mechanisms to inhibit endosomal TLR activation and are administered via different routes. Therefore, they represent candidate psoriasis drugs and might lead to the development of new treatment options.
A High Performance Cluster-Based Flooding Algorithm for Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

A cluster-based flooding algorithm for wireless ad hoc networks has been proposed. This mechanism uses a novel gateway usage approach. Dividing the flooding traffic to internal and external from each cluster point of view, gateway selection is just needed for the internal traffic. This simplifies the gateway selection method as well as improving the flooding performance parameters. The stability-based clustering algorithm has been used as the underlying clustering method. The stability advantage of this clustering method has been shown before by comprehensive simulations over different mobile environments. The performance parameters of the proposed flooding algorithm have been observed using simulations conducted over a number of environments and compared with other flooding methods. Results show the improvement of parameters such as flooding coverage as well as the number of re-broadcasts over other flooding algorithms
Comparing high‐resolution microscopy techniques for potential intraoperative use in guiding low‐grade glioma resections

Fluorescence image‐guided surgery (FIGS), with contrast provided by 5‐ALA‐induced PpIX, has been shown to enable a higher extent of resection of high‐grade gliomas. However, conventional FIGS with low‐power microscopy lacks the sensitivity to aid in low‐grade glioma (LGG) resection because PpIX signal is weak and sparse in such tissues. Intraoperative high‐resolution microscopy of PpIX fluorescence has been proposed as a method to guide LGG resection, where sub‐cellular resolution allows for the visualization of sparse and punctate mitochondrial PpIX production in tumor cells. Here, we assess the performance of three potentially portable high‐resolution microscopy techniques that may be used for the intraoperative imaging of human LGG tissue samples with PpIX contrast: high‐resolution fiber‐optic microscopy (HRFM), high‐resolution wide‐field microscopy (WFM), and dual‐axis confocal (DAC) microscopy.
Functions of Social Networking Services

Abstract. Social Networking Services (SNS) are the fastest growing type of social software – both in the Internet and in company-wide Intranets. Due to the fact that SNS have emerged just recently and the development speed of the services is enormous, there exist large gaps in research about this type of service. For example, so far there has been no attempt to identify and categorize the basic functionalities of SNS. This is the goal of this contribution. Six groups of functionalities for SNS are proposed and their categorization is motivated. The identification of a distinct set of SNS functions will facilitate the modularization and integration of different social network applications. Keywords: Social Networking, Expert Finding, Yellow Pages, Knowledge Management, Web 2.0, Social Software, Enterprise 2.0 1 Introduction While Knowledge Management activities have long been focused on the collection of documents and their storage in anonymous knowledge silos, in the past years companies are becoming more and more aware that employees are the real knowledge repositories and that real knowledge management is supporting communication and networking among the employees. Cohen and Prusak [4] for example highlight the high potential of networking employees to increase productivity and speed of innovation in companies. Therefore, support to find experts and in a broader sense support to human social networks is becoming more and more important in companies. The technological and technical developments of the last years make it possible to digitally reproduce human social networks. Thanks to this technical support users can establish and maintain contact to persons with whom contact would be difficult due to regional and social barriers. Users with alike interests and subject areas can now find each other and can stay connected in communities (of practice) and networks. In the context of the often-quoted Web 2.0 a new form of software to support collaborative work has evolved to cover this: Social Networking Services (SNS). Social Networking Services (SNS) are application systems that offer users functionalities for
Non‐invasive ventilation in prone position for refractory hypoxemia after bilateral lung transplantation

Abstract: Temporary graft dysfunction with gas exchange abnormalities is a common finding during the postoperative course of a lung transplant and is often determined by the post‐reimplantation syndrome. Supportive measures including oxygen by mask, inotropes, diuretics, and pulmonary vasodilators are usually effective in non‐severe post‐reimplantation syndromes. However, in less‐responsive clinical pictures, tracheal intubation with positive pressure ventilation, or non‐invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIV), is necessary. We report on the clinical course of two patients suffering from refractory hypoxemia due to post‐reimplantation syndrome treated with NIV in the prone and Trendelenburg positions. NIV was well tolerated and led to resolution of atelectactic areas and dishomogeneous lung infiltrates. Repeated turning from supine to prone under non invasive ventilation determined a stable improvement of gas exchange and prevented a more invasive approach. Even though NIV in the prone position has not yet entered into clinical practice, it could be an interesting option to achieve a better match between ventilation and perfusion. This technique, which we successfully applied in lung transplantation, can be easily extended to other lung diseases with non‐recruitable dorso‐basal areas.
Two Holliday junction resolving enzymes in Sulfolobus solfataricus.

Holliday junction resolving enzymes bind specifically to four-way DNA junctions created by the process of homologous recombination, cleaving them to yield recombinant duplex DNA products. Homologous recombination is known to occur in the third domain of life, the archaea, and may constitute a simplified model for the corresponding eucaryal pathway, but has not been well characterised. Identification of a gene encoding an archaeal Holliday junction resolving enzyme, Hjc, has recently been reported in the euryarchaea, and an activity has been observed in the hyperthermophilic crenarchaeote Sulfolobus solfataricus. Here we report the identification, heterologous expression and characterisation of the Hjc protein from Sulfolobus. We demonstrate that Sulfolobus has two distinct junction resolving enzymes, Hjc and Hje, with differing substrate specificities.
Real-time traffic over the IEEE 802.11 medium access control layer

This paper proposes multiple access procedures to transport real-time traffic over IEEE 802.11 wireless local area networks (LANs). As currently defined, the IEEE 802.11 standard supports real-time traffic by switching from its normal, distributed access mode — carrier sense multiple access/collision avoidance (CSMA/CA) — to a centralized one. The centralized mode severely constrains the operation of wireless LANs and provides inadequate performance. Our proposed procedures, on the other hand, are totally distributed and can be overlaid on CSMA/CA. They use the carrier sense capabilities of the network interfaces and require only the ability to jam the channel with pulses of energy of specified duration. The resulting scheme guarantees priority to real-time traffic and provides round-robin service and bounded access delays to real-time stations. This paper examines the behavior of the new access techniques to derive conditions under which they can be considered stable. In addition, it presents simulation results that assess the impact of these access procedures on the average delay of data packets. The simulations are also used to provide estimates of the number of real-time stations that can be supported under various network operating conditions.
Evolutionary Gain of Function for the ER Membrane Protein Sec62 from Yeast to Humans

We characterized interactions between the human proteins Sec62 and Sec63 as well as the putative interaction of human Sec62 with ribosomes. The data demonstrate evolutionary conservation of Sec62/Sec63 interaction and indicate that in the course of evolution Sec62 of vertebrates has gained the additional function to interact with ribosomes.
The Transcriptome of the Human Pathogen Trypanosoma brucei at Single-Nucleotide Resolution

The genome of Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of African trypanosomiasis, was published five years ago, yet identification of all genes and their transcripts remains to be accomplished. Annotation is challenged by the organization of genes transcribed by RNA polymerase II (Pol II) into long unidirectional gene clusters with no knowledge of how transcription is initiated. Here we report a single-nucleotide resolution genomic map of the T. brucei transcriptome, adding 1,114 new transcripts, including 103 non-coding RNAs, confirming and correcting many of the annotated features and revealing an extensive heterogeneity of 5' and 3' ends. Some of the new transcripts encode polypeptides that are either conserved in T. cruzi and Leishmania major or were previously detected in mass spectrometry analyses. High-throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was sensitive enough to detect transcripts at putative Pol II transcription initiation sites. Our results, as well as recent data from the literature, indicate that transcription initiation is not solely restricted to regions at the beginning of gene clusters, but may occur at internal sites. We also provide evidence that transcription at all putative initiation sites in T. brucei is bidirectional, a recently recognized fundamental property of eukaryotic promoters. Our results have implications for gene expression patterns in other important human pathogens with similar genome organization (Trypanosoma cruzi, Leishmania sp.) and revealed heterogeneity in pre-mRNA processing that could potentially contribute to the survival and success of the parasite population in the insect vector and the mammalian host.
Suppression of src transformation by overexpression of full-length GTPase-activating protein (GAP) or of the GAP C terminus

Overexpression of the full-length GTPase-activating protein (GAP) has recently been shown to suppress c-ras transformation of NIH 3T3 cells but not v-ras transformation (36). Here, we show that focus formation induced by c-src was inhibited by approximately 80% when cotransfected with a plasmid encoding full-length GAP. In a similar assay, focus formation by the activated c-src (Tyr-527 to Phe) gene was inhibited by 33%. Cotransfection of the GAP C terminus coding sequences (which encode the GTPase-accelerating domain) with c-src or c-src527F inhibited transformation more efficiently than did the full-length GAP, while the GAP N terminus coding sequences had no effect on src transformation. When cells transformed by c-ras, c-src, c-src527F, or v-src were transfected with GAP or the GAP C terminus sequence in the presence of a selectable marker, 40 to 85% of the resistant colonies were found to be morphologically revertant. The GAP C terminus induced reversion of each src-transformed cell line more efficiently than the full-length GAP, but this was not the case for reversion of c-ras transformation. Biochemical analysis of v-src revertant subclones showed that the reversion correlated with overexpression of full-length GAP or the GAP C terminus. There was no decrease in the level of pp60src expression or the level of protein-tyrosine phosphorylation in vivo. We conclude that GAP can suppress transformation by src via inhibition of endogenous ras activity, without inhibiting in vivo tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular proteins induced by pp60src, and that src may negatively regulate GAP's inhibitory action on endogenous ras.
Perception meets action: fMRI and behavioural investigations of human tool use

Tool use is essential and culturally universal to human life, common to huntergatherer and modern advanced societies alike. Although the neuroscience of simpler visuomotor behaviours like reaching and grasping have been studied extensively, relatively little is known about the brain mechanisms underlying learned tool use. With learned tool use, stored knowledge of object function and use supervene requirements for action programming based on physical object properties. Contemporary models of tool use based primarily on evidence from the study of brain damaged individuals implicate a set of specialized brain areas underlying the planning and control of learned actions with objects, distinct from areas devoted to more basic aspects of visuomotor control. The findings from the current thesis build on these existing theoretical models and provide new insights into the neural and behavioural mechanisms of learned tool use. In Project 1, I used fMRI to visualize brain activity in response to viewing tool use grasping. Grasping actions typical of how tools are normally grasped during use were found to preferentially activate occipitotemporal areas, including areas specialized for visual object recognition. The findings revealed sensitivity within this network to learned contextual associations tied to stored knowledge of tool-specific actions. The effects were seen to arise implicitly, in the absence of concurrent effects in visuomotor areas of parietofrontal cortex. These findings were taken to reflect the tuning of higher-order visual areas of occipitotemporal cortex to learned statistical regularities of the visual world, including the way in which tools are typically seen to be grasped and used. These areas are likely to represent an important source of inputs to visuomotor areas as to learned conceptual knowledge of tool use. In Project 2, behavioural priming and the kinematics of real tool use grasping was explored. Behavioural priming provides an index into the planning stages of actions. Participants grasped tools to either move them, grasp-to-move (GTM), or to demonstrate their common use, grasp-to-use (GTU), and grasping actions were preceded by a visual preview (prime) of either the same (congruent) or different (incongruent) tool as that
A Comparison of Brand Loyalty in Online and Physical Channels: An Empirical Application to Supermarkets

In this study some differences in brand value in online channels are examined and compared with physical channels. The arguments presented lead to two hypotheses about brand loyalty in these environments. The first is that brand loyalty will be greater in online channels and the other that this difference is greater in product categories in which sensory factors predominate (those perceived by the senses, such as touch or smell). A choice model that depends on the degree of brand loyalty is proposed (Colombo and Morrison, 1989) and the hypotheses are contrasted empirically. Using data from 2003, the degree of brand loyalty and the degree of loyalty within a category are estimated for two product categories sold in an online and physical stores of one of the main Spanish supermarket chains.
Effectiveness of regionalized systems for stroke and myocardial infarction

Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) are ischemic emergencies. Guidelines recommend care delivery within formally regionalized systems of care at designated centers, with bypass of nearby centers of lesser or no designation. We review the evidence of the effectiveness of regionalized systems in AIS and STEMI.