Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Actinfilin Is a Cul3 Substrate Adaptor, Linking GluR6 Kainate Receptor Subunits to the Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway*

Kainate receptors have been implicated in excitotoxic neuronal death induced by diseases such as epilepsy and stroke. Actinfilin, a synaptic member of the BTB-Kelch protein family, is known to bind to the actin cytoskeleton. However, little is understood about its function at the synapse. Here, we report that actinfilin is able to bind to GluR6, a kainate-type glutamate receptor subunit, and target GluR6 for degradation. Like many members of its protein family, actinfilin acts as a substrate adaptor, binding Cullin 3 (Cul3) and linking GluR6 to the E3 ubiquitin-ligase complex. We map this interaction to the Kelch repeat domain of actinfilin and the GluR6 C terminus. Co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence studies show that GluR6 is ubiquitinated, and that GluR6 levels are decreased by actinfilin overexpression but increased when actinfilin levels are reduced by specific RNA interference. Furthermore, actinfilin-Cul3 interactions appear to be important for regulating surface GluR6 expression. Synaptic GluR6 levels are elevated in mice with lowered neuronal Cul3 expression and when dominant-negative forms of Cul3 are transfected into hippocampal neurons. Together our data demonstrate that actinfilin acts as a scaffold, linking GluR6 to the Cul3 ubiquitin ligase to provide a novel mechanism for kainate receptor degradation.
A Context Model based on Ontological Languages: a Proposal for Information Visualization

In the last few years, people are increasingly demanding personalized information to carry out their daily activities. Information systems are needed to manage a representation of the user's situation, identify user needs and preferences, and implement information retrieval techniques that pull together data from diverse and heterogeneous sources. It is necessary to define and formalize context models for achieving these goals. In this paper, we present a formal context model based on advances on the Semantic Web. The model is compounded by four independent and related ontologies: users, devices, environment and services. Each of these ontologies describes general concepts and relationships involved in intelligent environments. The proposed design enables model specializations to particular domains and interoperability with external ontologies. Moreover, the model supports inference mechanisms to enhance the automatic context generation and the proactive behavior of particular services. Finally, this paper shows a specific prototype that offers personalized and context-aware information to the user, aided by the context model.
Enhancer-Like Activity of a Brome Mosaic Virus RNA Promoter

ABSTRACT As with transcription from DNA templates, RNA synthesis from viral RNA templates must initiate accurately. RNA sequences named specificity and initiation determinants allow recognition of and coordinated interaction with the viral replication enzyme. Using enriched replicase from brome mosaic virus (BMV)-infected plants and variants of the promoter template for minus-strand and subgenomic RNA initiation, we found that a specificity determinant for minus-strand initiation could function at variable distances and positions from the 3′ initiation site in a manner similar to enhancers of transcription from DNA templates. This determinant's addition could convert a cellular tRNA into a template for RNA synthesis by the BMV replicase in vitro. Furthermore, the same specificity element could direct internal initiation, which occurred at a highly preferred site in a manner distinct from initiation at the 3′ terminus of the template. These results document two distinct modes of initiation site recognition by a viral RNA replicase.
Anaplasma phagocytophilum–infected Ticks, Japan

We report Anaplasma phagocytophilum infection of Ixodes persulcatus and I. ovatus ticks in Japan. Unique p44/msp2 paralogs (and/or 16S rRNA genes) were detected in tick tissues, salivary glands, and spleens of experimentally infected mice. These findings indicate the public health threat of anaplasmosis in Japan.
The role of the Weibull distribution in Internet traffic modeling

This paper highlights the important role played by the two parameter Weibull distribution in Internet traffic modeling. Internet traffic structurally consists of sessions, flows and packets; and traverses through different tiers of service providers during its end-to-end journey. Observation of invariant heavy tails in access traffic patterns of individual users has motivated us to investigate traffic transformation/aggregation as it traverses from access to core network. We found that the flexible nature of the Weibull distribution can capture this transformation at inter-arrival level. We also present and justify our hypothesis that given a suitable scale parameter specific to a certain access media or tier, the Weibull shape parameter can be used to zoom in from session to flow and to the packet level inter-arrivals.
U.S. Males and Pornography, 1973–2010: Consumption, Predictors, Correlates

Although both storied and extensive, social scientific research on the effects of pornography consumption on males has primarily focused on testing the feminist contention that pornography contributes to sexual aggression against females. Other parties have expressed concern about males’ use of pornography, however. “Moralists” (Linz & Malamuth, 1993) have argued that pornography promotes a permissive approach to sexual relations. Public health researchers have hypothesized that pornography encourages epidemiologically risky sexual behavior. This study used cross-sectional General Social Survey data gathered between 1973 and 2010 to assess these claims for empirical support. In line with moralists’ contentions, pornography consumption was associated with having more positive attitudes toward teenage sex, adult premarital sex, and extramarital sex. Pornography consumption was also positively related to actually engaging in extramarital sex. In line with public health researchers’ concerns, pornography consumption was associated with having more sexual partners and engaging in paid sex behavior. Additional longitudinal and experimental research is needed to determine the directionality of these associations and to rule out possible third-variable confounds, such as erotophilia or hypersexuality. Regarding consumption, the percentage of adult U.S. males who consume pornography appears to have increased only slightly over time.
Multidimensional, multistage wavelet footprints: a new tool for image segmentation and feature extraction in medical ultrasound

We present a new wavelet-based strategy for autonomous feature extraction and segmentation of cardiac structures in dynamic ultrasound images. Image sequences subjected to a multidimensional (2D plus time) wavelet transform yield a large number of individual subbands, each coding for partial structural and motion information of the ultrasound sequence. We exploited this fact to create an analysis strategy for autonomous analysis of cardiac ultrasound that builds on shape- and motion specific wavelet subband filters. Subband selection was in an automatic manner based on subband statistics. Such a collection of predefined subbands corresponds to the so-called footprint of the target structure and can be used as a multidimensional multiscale filter to detect and localize the target structure in the original ultrasound sequence. Autonomous, unequivocal localization by the autonomous algorithm is then done using a peak finding algorithm, allowing to compare the findings with a reference standard. Image segmentation is then possible using standard region growing operations. To test the feasibility of this multiscale footprint algorithm, we tried to localize, enhance and segment the mitral valve autonomously in 182 non-selected clinical cardiac ultrasound sequences. Correct autonomous localization by the algorithm was feasible in 165 of 182 reconstructed ultrasound sequences, using the experienced echocardiographer as reference. This corresponds to a 91% accuracy of the proposed method in unselected clinical data. Thus, multidimensional multiscale wavelet footprints allow successful autonomous detection and segmentation of the mitral valve with good accuracy in dynamic cardiac ultrasound sequences which are otherwise difficult to analyse due to their high noise level.
Afferent and efferent connections of the oculomotor cerebellar vermis in the macaque monkey

Saccadic eye movements were evoked with weak currents applied to a circumscribed vermal area. The area was confined to lobule VII in the majority of the monkeys and coincided with the distribution of saccade‐related neural activity. We defined this area as the oculomotor vermis and studied its anatomical connections with wheat germ‐agglutinin conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WGA/HRP) and HRP.
Air Pollution in High-Risk Sites–Risk Analysis and Health Impact

Epidemiological studies represent the scientific basis used to verify the existence of negative health effects caused by air pollution and to quantify the value of these effects, estimating the dose-response relationships. Many studies have demonstrated that air pollution is associated with a wide range of adverse health outcomes. Statistical analyses, conducted on monitoring and biomonitoring data, also show a relationship between the level of air pollution and the rate of mortality and morbidity. Unlike accidents, pollution is not considered a cause of immediate death. Actually, it is thought that it represents a cause of premature death. Air pollution is associated with a great number of illnesses, such as cancer, respiratory, cardio‐ vascular and neurological diseases, and also diabetes and infertility problems.
Validation of a Translated and Culturally Adapted Iranian Version of the International Index of Erectile Function

This study aimed to examine the psychometric values of a Farsi-translated version of the International Index of Erectile Function among a population sample of Iranian men. A community sample of 2,345 healthy men and a clinical sample of 421 men with diagnosed erectile function from 2 cities of Iran participated in the study. Participants were asked to complete the International Index of Erectile Function, the Life Satisfaction questionnaire, and a demographic questionnaire at baseline. Four weeks later, both samples were asked to recomplete the International Index of Erectile Function. The response rates were 84% (n = 1,969) and 98% (n = 412) for healthy men and men with erectile function, respectively. The retest reliability of the International Index of Erectile Function showed excellent intraclass correlation coefficients for both the healthy and patient samples. The International Index of Erectile Function subscales correlated significantly with the scores resulting from the clinical rating of erectile function conducted by urologists. Men with erectile function, as diagnosed by urologists, had significant lower scores in all subscales. The results of the exploratory factor analysis indicated that the International Index of Erectile Function could be summarized into a 5-component solution.The Iranian version of the International Index of Erectile Function was found to be a highly valid and reliable instrument to be used for the assessment of erectile function in clinical and population samples.
Gypsy Moth (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae) Flight Behavior and Phenology Based on Field-Deployed Automated Pheromone-Baited Traps

ABSTRACT Populations of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar (L.), are extensively monitored in the United States through the use of pheromone-baited traps. We report on use of automated pheromone-baited traps that use a recording sensor and data logger to record the unique date-time stamp of males as they enter the trap. We deployed a total of 352 automated traps under field conditions across several U.S. states over a 5-yr period. In many cases, there was general congruence between male moth capture and the number of recorded events. Although it was difficult to decipher an individual recording event because of the tendency for over-recording, the overall distribution of recorded events was useful in assessing male gypsy moth flight behavior and phenology. The time stamp for recorded events corroborated a previous report of crepuscular gypsy moth male flight behavior, because, although most moths were trapped between 12 and 16 h, there was a consistent period of flight activity between 20 and 22 h. The median male flight duration was 24 d (228 DD, base threshold = 10°C), but there were several traps that recorded flight periods >42 d that could not be explained by overcounting given the congruence between moth capture and the number of recorded events. Unusually long flight periods could indicate the introduction of male moths or other life stages that developed under different climatic conditions.
Birth Weight and Prenatal Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE): A Meta-analysis within 12 European Birth Cohorts

Objectives: Exposure to high concentrations of persistent organochlorines may cause fetal toxicity, but the evidence at low exposure levels is limited. Large studies with substantial exposure contrasts and appropriate exposure assessment are warranted. Within the framework of the EU (European Union) ENRIECO (ENvironmental Health RIsks in European Birth Cohorts) and EU OBELIX (OBesogenic Endocrine disrupting chemicals: LInking prenatal eXposure to the development of obesity later in life) projects, we examined the hypothesis that the combination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) adversely affects birth weight. Methods: We used maternal and cord blood and breast milk samples of 7,990 women enrolled in 15 study populations from 12 European birth cohorts from 1990 through 2008. Using identical variable definitions, we performed for each cohort linear regression of birth weight on estimates of cord serum concentration of PCB-153 and p,p´-DDE adjusted for gestational age and a priori selected covariates. We obtained summary estimates by meta-analysis and performed analyses of interactions. Results: The median concentration of cord serum PCB-153 was 140 ng/L (range of cohort medians 20–484 ng/L) and that of p,p´-DDE was 528 ng/L (range of cohort medians 50–1,208 ng/L). Birth weight decreased with increasing cord serum concentration of PCB-153 after adjustment for potential confounders in 12 of 15 study populations. The meta-analysis including all cohorts indicated a birth weight decline of 150 g [95% confidence interval (CI): –250, –50 g] per 1-µg/L increase in PCB-153, an exposure contrast that is close to the range of exposures across the cohorts. A 1-µg/L increase in p,p´-DDE was associated with a 7-g decrease in birth weight (95% CI: –18, 4 g). Conclusions: The findings suggest that low-level exposure to PCB (or correlated exposures) impairs fetal growth, but that exposure to p,p´-DDE does not. The study adds to mounting evidence that low-level exposure to PCBs is inversely associated with fetal growth.
Chemoimmobilization: Improving Predictability in the Treatment of Facial Scars

A major goal of incision closure and traumatic laceration repair is to minimize scarring. An important factor determining the final cosmetic appearance of cutaneous scars is tension acting on wound edges during healing.1–4 The principle of chemoimmobilization to reduce tension and improve healing was investigated in a previous study. Injection of botulinum toxin into the musculature underlying cutaneous wounds resulted in immobilization of the healing wounds and significantly better cosmetic appearance than found in nonimmobilized control wounds in primates.5 This research led to the use of botulinum toxin to treat facial incisions and lacerations in humans.6 Shortcomings of botulinum toxins include the delayed onset of action and lack of immediate feedback on the treatment result. The need to immobilize cutaneous wounds in a more controlled and predictable fashion led to further research. In a recent study, we demonstrated that immediate paralysis of musculature injected with botulinum toxin type A can be achieved with a new formulation, which enhances the predictability of the treatment effect.7
Difficulties in extrapolating from clinical trial data to clinical practice: The case of antiepileptic drugs

Effective new antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are needed for the treatment of those with refractory epilepsy. However, with the growing number of these drugs being licensed and marketed, a rational approach to the treatment of epilepsy is becoming essential. New AED trials can determine appropriate use of AEDs but ultimately fail to determine the best use of AEDs and their exact role in treating patients. New AED trials rarely use clinically applicable measures of efficacy, and it is difficult to extrapolate the data from populations used in AED trials to the wider population of patients with epilepsy. Furthermore, AED trials ignore the factors that are most likely to determine prognosis: the etiology, seizure types, and epilepsy syndrome. To resolve these issues, we need large multicenter studies in well-defined populations with well-characterized seizures, epilepsy syndromes, and etiologies. Being seizure free should be the primary measure of efficacy rather than meta-analyses and guidelines based upon incomplete data.
Involvement of Aldosterone and Mineralocorticoid Receptors in Rat Mesangial Cell Proliferation and Deformability

We demonstrated recently that chronic administration of aldosterone to rats induces glomerular mesangial injury and activates mitogen-activated protein kinases including extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2). We also observed that the aldosterone-induced mesangial injury and ERK1/2 activation were prevented by treatment with a selective mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist, eplerenone, suggesting that the glomerular mesangium is a potential target for injuries induced by aldosterone via activation of MR. In the present study, we investigated whether MR is expressed in cultured rat mesangial cells (RMCs) and involved in aldosterone-induced RMC injury. MR expression and localization were evaluated by Western blotting analysis and fluorolabeling methods. Cell proliferation and micromechanical properties were determined by [3H]-thymidine uptake measurements and a nanoindentation technique using an atomic force microscope cantilever, respectively. ERK1/2 activity was measured by Western blotting analysis with an anti-phospho–ERK1/2 antibody. Protein expression and immunostaining revealed that MR was abundant in the cytoplasm of RMCs. Aldosterone (1 to 100 nmol/L) dose-dependently activated ERK1/2 in RMCs with a peak at 10 minutes. Pretreatment with eplerenone (10 &mgr;mol/L) significantly attenuated aldosterone-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Aldosterone (100 nmol/L) treatment for 30 hours increased [3H]-thymidine incorporation and decreased the elastic modulus, indicating cellular proliferative and deforming effects of aldosterone, respectively. These aldosterone-induced changes in cellular characteristics were prevented by pretreatment with eplerenone or an ERK (MEK) inhibitor, PD988059 (100 &mgr;mol/L). The results indicate that aldosterone directly induces RMC proliferation and deformability through MR and ERK1/2 activation, which may contribute to the pathogenesis of glomerular mesangial injury.
Filoviral Immune Evasion Mechanisms

The Filoviridae family of viruses, which includes the genera Ebolavirus (EBOV) and Marburgvirus (MARV), causes severe and often times lethal hemorrhagic fever in humans. Filoviral infections are associated with ineffective innate antiviral responses as a result of virally encoded immune antagonists, which render the host incapable of mounting effective innate or adaptive immune responses. The Type I interferon (IFN) response is critical for establishing an antiviral state in the host cell and subsequent activation of the adaptive immune responses. Several filoviral encoded components target Type I IFN responses, and this innate immune suppression is important for viral replication and pathogenesis. For example, EBOV VP35 inhibits the phosphorylation of IRF-3/7 by the TBK-1/IKKε kinases in addition to sequestering viral RNA from detection by RIG-I like receptors. MARV VP40 inhibits STAT1/2 phosphorylation by inhibiting the JAK family kinases. EBOV VP24 inhibits nuclear translocation of activated STAT1 by karyopherin-α. The examples also represent distinct mechanisms utilized by filoviral proteins in order to counter immune responses, which results in limited IFN-α/β production and downstream signaling.
Optimizing the performance of turbo code HDL model for rapid prototype

Turbo code is a class of convolutional codes which have great deal of interest as they attain the ultimate limits of the capacity of communication channel. They are known as “The ultimate Error Control Codes” which made them move rapidly from research laboratories to practical applications throughout the world. The use of these codes has been proposed for several applications where highly reliable transmission is required at very low SNR. In this paper we discuss hardware implementation aspect of turbo codes along with some previous work done and their limitations. We also present the results of RTL modeling and simulation and the synthesis report of turbo encoder using Xilinx ISE 10.1. The performance of turbo codes can be optimized in terms of power consumption and resource utilization of hardware.
Fractional Order Differentiation by Integration and Error Analysis in Noisy Environment

The integer order differentiation by integration method based on the Jacobi orthogonal polynomials for noisy signals was originally introduced by Mboup, Join and Fliess. We propose to extend this method from the integer order to the fractional order to estimate the fractional order derivatives of noisy signals. Firstly, two fractional order differentiators are deduced from the Jacobi orthogonal polynomial filter, using the Riemann-Liouville and the Caputo fractional order derivative definitions respectively. Exact and simple formulae for these differentiators are given by integral expressions. Hence, they can be used for both continuous-time and discrete-time models in on-line or off-line applications. Secondly, some error bounds are provided for the corresponding estimation errors. These bounds allow to study the design parameters' influence. The noise error contribution due to a large class of stochastic processes is studied in discrete case. The latter shows that the differentiator based on the Caputo fractional order derivative can cope with a class of noises, whose mean value and variance functions are polynomial time-varying. Thanks to the design parameters analysis, the proposed fractional order differentiators are significantly improved by admitting a time-delay. Thirdly, in order to reduce the calculation time for on-line applications, a recursive algorithm is proposed. Finally, the proposed differentiator based on the Riemann-Liouville fractional order derivative is used to estimate the state of a fractional order system and numerical simulations illustrate the accuracy and the robustness with respect to corrupting noises.