Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Different effects of microbubble destruction and translation in Doppler measurements

In flow measurements in which microbubbles are involved, the amplitude and phase of the received echo signal are noticeably influenced by the transmitted ultrasound intensity. Previous studies have shown that, when such intensity is progressively increased, the Doppler spectrum is accordingly distorted, i.e., it is asymmetrically broadened toward the negative frequency side. Such deformation has been attributed to radiation force, which pushes the microbubbles into the sound propagation direction, thus yielding additional phase delays in the received echoes. However, the possible contribution of microbubble destruction to this spectral deformation has not been considered yet. In this paper, this issue is investigated by analyzing the experimental spectra produced by two different types of microbubbles suspended in a moving fluid and insonified in pulsed wave (PW) mode at programmable pulse repetition frequency (PRF) and pressure. Conditions are created in which either the radiation force or the destruction mechanism is expected to be dominant. Effects produced by the two phenomena on the Doppler spectrum are shown to be different. When the PRF is low (2 kHz), so that, according to theoretical simulations, the radiation force effect is negligible, a 26 dB noise floor increase is observed for a 13 dB pressure increment. For a higher PRF (16 kHz), the same pressure increase not only affects the noise floor, but also causes the bubbles to deviate from their original streamlines, yielding a Doppler bandwidth increase by a factor of 5. It is concluded that asymmetrical spectral broadening is mainly due to radiation force, and microbubble destruction mainly results in an increased noise floor without affecting the spectral shape.
LNCipedia: a database for annotated human lncRNA transcript sequences and structures

Here, we present LNCipedia (http://www.lncipedia.org), a novel database for human long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) transcripts and genes. LncRNAs constitute a large and diverse class of non-coding RNA genes. Although several lncRNAs have been functionally annotated, the majority remains to be characterized. Different high-throughput methods to identify new lncRNAs (including RNA sequencing and annotation of chromatin-state maps) have been applied in various studies resulting in multiple unrelated lncRNA data sets. LNCipedia offers 21 488 annotated human lncRNA transcripts obtained from different sources. In addition to basic transcript information and gene structure, several statistics are determined for each entry in the database, such as secondary structure information, protein coding potential and microRNA binding sites. Our analyses suggest that, much like microRNAs, many lncRNAs have a significant secondary structure, in-line with their presumed association with proteins or protein complexes. Available literature on specific lncRNAs is linked, and users or authors can submit articles through a web interface. Protein coding potential is assessed by two different prediction algorithms: Coding Potential Calculator and HMMER. In addition, a novel strategy has been integrated for detecting potentially coding lncRNAs by automatically re-analysing the large body of publicly available mass spectrometry data in the PRIDE database. LNCipedia is publicly available and allows users to query and download lncRNA sequences and structures based on different search criteria. The database may serve as a resource to initiate small- and large-scale lncRNA studies. As an example, the LNCipedia content was used to develop a custom microarray for expression profiling of all available lncRNAs.
Recent improvements to the PROSITE database

The PROSITE database consists of a large collection of biologically meaningful signatures that are described as patterns or profiles. Each signature is linked to documentation that provides useful biological information on the protein family, domain or functional site identified by the signature. The PROSITE web page has been redesigned and several tools have been implemented to help the user discover new conserved regions in their own proteins and to visualize domain arrangements. We also introduced the facility to search PDB with a PROSITE entry or a user's pattern and visualize matched positions on 3D structures. The latest version of PROSITE (release 18.17 of November 30, 2003) contains 1676 entries. The database is accessible at http://www.expasy. org/prosite/.
Development of the Clinical Learning Environment and Supervision Evaluation (CLESE) Scale for Nursing Students of M.M University Mullana, Ambala

A methodological study was undertaken to develop clinical learning environment and supervision evaluation (CLESE) scale for nursing students of M.M University Mullana, Ambala. Modified Delphi technique was used to develop CLESE scale with 9 experts. After 3 Delphi rounds the scale was tried out on 190 nursing students of M.M. University. The reliability of scale was assessed by Cronbach alpha which was 0.89 indicated the internal consistency of scale. Stability of CLESE scale was assessed by test retest and was . 83. The tool for analysis of Content and face validity was the panel of experts. Construct validity was analyzed by factor analysis. All (53) item had correlation >. 20, Bartlett's test of sphericity and KMO value of data was allowing for the factor analysis, hence all items included in factor analysis. In factor analysis 10 components were generated and all items had loading value more than . 30 and accounts for 50% of variance, so all retained in the final scale. Hence, a valid and reliable CLESE scale was develop to evaluate clinical learning environment and supervision for nursing students.
Effect of hippotherapy on motor control, adaptive behaviors, and participation in children with autism spectrum disorder: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether hippotherapy increased function and participation in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We hypothesized improvements in motor control, which might increase adaptive behaviors and participation in daily activities. METHOD Six children with ASD ages 5-12 participated in 12 weekly 45-min hippotherapy sessions. Measures pre- and post-hippotherapy included the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-II and the Child Activity Card Sort. Motor control was measured preintervention and postintervention using a video motion capture system and force plates. RESULTS Postural sway significantly decreased postintervention. Significant increases were observed in overall adaptive behaviors (receptive communication and coping) and in participation in self-care, low-demand leisure, and social interactions. CONCLUSION These results suggest that hippotherapy has a positive influence on children with ASD and can be a useful treatment tool for this population.
(1,3)-β-Glucans Activate Both Dectin-1 and NLRP3 Inflammasome in Human Macrophages

β-glucans are naturally occurring polysaccharides that are the major cell wall components of fungi. Recognition of β-glucans is mediated through a membrane-bound pattern recognition receptor called dectin-1, and gene knock-out studies have shown that dectin-1 plays an important role in antifungal immune response in vivo. In this report, we have studied the effect of large particulate (1,3)-β-glucans, including curdlan, glucan from baker's yeast, paramylon, and zymosan, on inflammatory response in human macrophages. We show that β-glucans activate the transcription of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β through a dectin-1–dependent pathway in human macrophages. Moreover, dectin-1 receptor associated Syk tyrosine kinase was essential for β-glucan induced IL-1β mRNA expression. In contrast to LPS, β-glucans also strongly activated the secretion of IL-1β. This β-glucan triggered IL-1β release was abolished by cytochalasin D, an inhibitor of phagocytosis, demonstrating that cytosolic recognition of β-glucans is required for IL-1β response in human macrophages. RNA interference-mediated gene knockdown experiments demonstrated that cytoplasmic NLRP3 inflammasome is essential for β-glucan–induced IL-1β secretion. Moreover, our results suggest that β-glucan–induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation is dependent on the dectin-1/Syk signaling pathway. Furthermore, our results suggest that the lysosomal cathepsin B protease, the formation of reactive oxygen species, and the efflux of potassium are needed for β-glucan–induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In conclusion, our results show that β-glucans are recognized by membrane-associated dectin-1 and cytoplasmic NLRP3 inflammasome resulting in IL-1β gene transcription and IL-1β secretion in human macrophages, respectively.
Características generales de las interacciones verbales entre niños ciegos y sus madres

Resumen En este trabajo se estudian las interacciones verbales entre niños con diferente grado de visisón (ciegos, deficientes visuales y videntes) y sus madres. Se presentan datos procedentes de dos estudios longitudinales diferentes. En el primero, se observaron y analizaron las interacciones conversacionales de tres niños (una niña ciega, otra vidente y un niño deficiente visual) y sus madres. Los niños fueron investigados entre los 22 y los 25 meses de edad. En el segundo estudio se observó a cuatro niños—tres de los cuales eran ciegos y una vidente—y a sus madres durante dos períodos evolutivos: desde los 28 a los 34 meses (período 1), y desde los 35 a los 40 meses (período 2). Todos los niños y sus madres participaron en sesiones mensuales de observación realizadas en su ambiente familiar en situación natural que fueron grabadas con video. El foco de interés de los análisis fue la capacidad de los niños ciegos para participar en interacciones comunicativas, comparada con la capacidad de niños videntes y deficientes visuales. No se hallaron diferencias en la capacidad para inciar conversaciones, ni en la longitud de los turnos ni en la producción de rupturas conversacionales entre los niños. Por otra parte, se ha encontrado que las madres de los niños ciegos iniciaban más conversaciones y adoptaban más turnos por episodio conversacional que las madres de los niños videntes y deficientes visuales. Por tanto, las descripciones previas sobre la capacidad comunicativa de los niños ciegos (Kekelis y Andersen, 1984; Moore y McConachie, 1994; Kekelis y Prinz, 1996) son puestas en cuestión
Evaluation of human brain tumor heterogeneity using multiple T1‐based MRI signal weighting approaches

Vascular‐space‐occupancy (VASO) MRI without contrast injection was explored for imaging cerebral blood volume (CBV) and tissue heterogeneity in gliomas (n = 10). VASO contrast complemented contrast‐enhanced T1‐weighted (GAD‐T1w), FLAIR and T1w magnetization‐prepared‐rapid‐gradient‐echo (MPRAGE) images. High‐grade gliomas showed a VASO‐outlined hyperintense zone corresponding to long‐T1 regions in MPRAGE and to nonenhancing regions in GAD‐T1w images. FLAIR, MPRAGE, and VASO data were used to segment tumors into multiple zones of different T1. After removal of known resection areas using pre‐ and postsurgical MRI, the volume of overlap between the hyperintense VASO‐zone and the long‐T1 MPRAGE zone correlated with that of GAD‐T1w enhancement (R2 = 0.99) and tumor grade. Based on these correlations, this remaining long T1 overlap area was tentatively assigned to necrosis. In one promising case the collective T1‐weighted approach accurately identified a low‐grade glioma despite the presence of contrast enhancement in GAD‐T1w images consequential to chemoradiation‐associated treatment effect. The results suggest that this collective T1‐weighted approach may provide useful information for regional assessment of heterogeneous tumors and for guiding treatment‐related decisions in patients with gliomas. Magn Reson Med, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
METHODOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE IN CONSTRUCTING SPIRITUALITY AND DIGNITY-BASED ACCOUNTING

Abstract: Methodological Perspective In Constructing Spirituality And Dignity-Based Accounting. One of the boarding schools in Indonesia is Pondok Pesantren Tebuireng. It is interesting to study how Pondok Pesantren maintains its existence in highly competitive era. This study discusses the role of social culture and passion for applying accounting to maintain organizational survival that can be considered as an intellectual capital. The paradigm used in this study is qualitative paradigm. The exploration and collection of data will be carried out by using Hasan Hanafi ’s hermeneutic interpretation of phenomenology that is known as triadic elements. Abstrak: Perspektif Metodologis dalam Mengkonstruksi Akuntansi berbasis Spiritual dan Harga Diri. Salah satu pondok pesantren di Indonesia adalah Pondok Pesantren Tebuireng. Sangat menarik untuk mempelajari bagaimana Pondok Pesantren ini mampu mempertahankan keberadaannya di era yang sangat kompetitif. Penelitian ini membahas peran sosial budaya dan semangat untuk menerapkan akuntansi dalam kelangsungan hidup organisasi yang dapat dianggap sebagai modal intelektual. Paradigma yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah paradigma kualitatif. Cara bagaimana mengeksplorasi dan mengumpulkan data adalah dengan menggunakan interpretasi hermeneutik fenomenologi Hasan Hanafi yang disebut sebagai Triadic Elements.
T‐cell lymphoma developing in Hodgkin's disease: Evidence for two clones

A case of peripheral T‐cell lymphoma (PTL) occurring in a patient with Hodgkin's disease (HD) in relapse is described. The second neoplasm developed 25 months after the diagnosis of HD. Cytogenetic analysis on the lymph node biopsy at the time of diagnosis of PTL revealed the co‐existence of two distinct, abnormal cell clones. The first clone was characterized by a reciprocal translocation t(5;7)(q13;q35) involving 7q35, namely the TCR‐β gene, as expected in T‐cell lymphomas. The second cell clone carried trisomies for chromosomes 2, 5, 7, and 14. By immunophenotypic and molccular analysis as well as by in situ hybridization, it was possible to prove that the malignant T‐cells and the Reed‐Sternberg cells corresponded to different cell clones, one carrying the structural chromosome abnormalities and one carrying the numerical chromosome anomalies. These results indicate that the present case represented a true composite lymphoma.
Adsorption of hydrogen sulfide by biochars derived from pyrolysis of different agricultural/forestry wastes

ABSTRACT The characteristics and mechanisms of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) adsorption on three different biochars derived from agricultural/forestry wastes through pyrolysis at various temperatures (100 to 500 ºC) were investigated. In this study, the H2S breakthrough capacity was measured using a laboratory-characterized using pH and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. The results obtained demonstrate that all biochars were effective in H2S sorption. The sorption capacity of the biochar for H2S removal is related to the pyrolysis temperature and pH of the surface. Certain threshold ranges of the pyrolysis temperature (from 100 to 500 ºC) and pH of the surface are presented. It also concluded that the sorption capacity (for removing H2S) of rice hull-derived biochar is the largest in three biochars (camphor-derived biochar, rice hull-derived biochar, and bamboo-derived biochar). These observations will be helpful in designing biochar as engineered sorbents for the removal of H2S.Implications: This paper focuses on the adsorption of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) by biochars derived from wastes. The characteristics and mechanisms of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) adsorption on three different boichars derived from agricultural/forestry wastes through pyrolysis at various temperatures were investigated. In this study, the H2S breakthrough capacity was measured using laboratory characterization with pH and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis. The results obtained demonstrate that all biochars were effective in H2S sorption. The sorption capacity of the biochar for H2S removal is related to the pyrolysis temperature and pH of the surface.
Aurora Kinase A Promotes Ovarian Tumorigenesis through Dysregulation of the Cell Cycle and Suppression of BRCA2

Purpose: Aurora kinase A (Aurora-A) is known to regulate genomic instability and tumorigenesis in multiple human cancers. The underlying mechanism, however, is not fully understood. We examined the molecular mechanism of Aurora-A regulation in human ovarian cancer. Experimental Design: Retrovirus-mediated small hairpin RNA (shRNA) was used to silence the expression of Aurora-A in the ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV3, OVCA432, and OVCA433. Immunofluorescence, Western blotting, flow cytometry, cytogenetic analysis, and animal assay were used to test centrosome amplification, cell cycle alteration, apoptosis, DNA damage response, tumor growth, and genomic instability. Immunostaining of BRCA2 and Aurora-A was done in ovarian, pancreatic, breast, and colon cancer samples. Results: Knockdown of Aurora-A reduced centrosome amplification, malformation of mitotic spindles, and chromosome aberration, leading to decreased tumor growth. Silencing Aurora-A attenuated cell cycle progression and enhanced apoptosis and DNA damage response by restoring p21, pRb, and BRCA2 expression. Aurora-A was inversely correlated with BRCA2 in high-grade ovarian serous carcinoma, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer. In high-grade ovarian serous carcinoma, positive expression of BRCA2 predicted increased overall and disease-free survival, whereas positive expression of Aurora-A predicted poor overall and disease-free survival (P < 0.05). Moreover, an increased Aurora-A to BRCA2 expression ratio predicted poor overall survival (P = 0.047) compared with a decreased Aurora-A to BRCA2 expression ratio. Conclusion: Aurora-A regulates genomic instability and tumorigenesis through cell cycle dysregulation and BRCA2 suppression. The negative correlation between Aurora-A and BRCA2 exists in multiple cancers, whereas the expression ratio of Aurora-A to BRCA2 predicts ovarian cancer patient outcome. Clin Cancer Res; 16(12); 3171–81. ©2010 AACR.
Arsenite-Induced Apoptosis in Cortical Neurons Is Mediated by c-Jun N-Terminal Protein Kinase 3 and p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase

c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase are activated by stress and are implicated in regulation of apoptosis in several tissues. However, their contribution to stress-induced apoptosis in CNS neurons is not well defined. Here we investigated the role of JNK and p38 in cortical neuron apoptosis caused by sodium arsenite treatment. Sodium arsenite is an environmental toxicant that causes developmental defects in the CNS. Treatment of cortical neurons with sodium arsenite activated p38 and JNK3 but not JNK1 or JNK2. It also induced c-Jun phosphorylation. Furthermore, sodium arsenite induced cortical neuron apoptosis. This apoptosis was attenuated by SB203580, an inhibitor of p38, and by CEP-1347, an inhibitor of JNK activation. Expression of dominant-interfering mutants of the JNK or p38 pathways inhibited apoptosis induced by arsenite, whereas expression of constitutive active mutants for either pathway induced apoptosis. Moreover, the caspase inhibitor zVAD-fluoromethylketone as well as expression of bcl-2 or bcl-xL inhibited cortical neuron apoptosis induced by arsenite or by constitutive activation of JNK or p38. These data indicate that both JNK and p38 contribute to arsenite-induced apoptosis in primary CNS neurons, and this apoptosis requires the bcl-2–caspase pathway. This is the first evidence that a specific JNK isoform is differentially activated by stress and contributes to neuronal apoptosis.
Education Through Participation : the Role of Citizen Science in Marine Habitat Conservation

The involvement of volunteers in monitoring programs is currently well established in scientific research and is often addressed as “citizens’ science”. A simple but focused training course, held before participants take action, is crucial to obtain sound and reliable data when volunteers operate in the field. Further to providing validated information, this kind of public engagement has important effects on citizens’ environmental awareness, fosters the understanding of scientific issues and has the potential to inform decision making, let alone that difficult communication between Science and Society is a root cause for the under-funding of research. Italian Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) could play a fundamental role in facilitating this process thanks to their institutional environmental education programmes, that is by promoting the involvement of the lay public both in monitoring projects and management decisions. Once engaged in action, volunteers tend to feel more connected with nature, promoting the adoption of correct behaviour and an inclination to protect the marine environment. Here we report on experiences involving the not-for-profit organisation Reef Check Italia onlus and Italian MPAs. These activities have engaged both recreational SCUBA divers and students from different school levels. Such experience have produced validated data on species’ distribution and beach pollution, and have concomitantly increased the understanding and awareness about the marine environment in the volunteers. Knowledge of species’ distribution and abundance is the first priority in the conservation of biodiversity, as it sets the baseline for the design and implementation of monitoring plans. Empowered to play an active role in the monitoring of evolving habitats, volunteers embody the concept of ocean stewardship and become crucial nodes for further outreach to society.
Towards interactive authoring tools for composing spatialization

We present interactive tools designed to help music composers controlling sound spatialization processes in a computer-aided composition environment. We conducted interviews with composers to understand their needs and inform the design of new compositional interfaces. These interfaces support quick input, visualization and edition of three-dimensional trajectories, as well as the control of the temporal dimension in spatial scene descriptions.
How Evolutionary Dynamics Affects Network Reciprocity in Prisoner's Dilemma

Cooperation lies at the foundations of human societies, yet why people cooperate remains a conundrum. The issue, known as network reciprocity, of whether population structure can foster cooperative behavior in social dilemmas has been addressed by many, but theoretical studies have yielded contradictory results so farâ€”as the problem is very sensitive to how players adapt their strategy. However, recent experiments with the prisonerâ€™s dilemma game played on different networks and in a specific range of payoffs suggest that humans, at least for those experimental setups, do not consider neighborsâ€™ payoffs when making their decisions, and that the network structure does not influence the final outcome. In this work we carry out an extensive analysis of different evolutionary dynamics, taking into account most of the alternatives that have been proposed so far to implement playersâ€™ strategy updating process. In this manner we show that the absence of network reciprocity is a general feature of the dynamics (among those we consider) that do not take neighborsâ€™ payoffs into account. Our results, together with experimental evidence, hint at how to properly model real peopleâ€™s behavior.