Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rho Kinase Differentially Regulates Phosphorylation of Nonmuscle Myosin II Isoforms A and B during Cell Rounding and Migration*

The actin-myosin cytoskeleton is generally accepted to produce the contractile forces necessary for cellular processes such as cell rounding and migration. All vertebrates examined to date are known to express at least two isoforms of non-muscle myosin II, referred to as myosin IIA and myosin IIB. Studies of myosin IIA and IIB in cultured cells and null mice suggest that these isoforms perform distinct functions. However, how each myosin II isoform contributes individually to all the cellular functions attributed to “myosin II” has yet to be fully characterized. Using isoform-specific small-interfering RNAs, we found that depletion of either isoform resulted in opposing migration phenotypes, with myosin IIA- and IIB-depleted cells exhibiting higher and lower wound healing migration rates, respectively. In addition, myosin IIA-depleted cells demonstrated impaired thrombin-induced cell rounding and undertook a more motile morphology, exhibiting decreased amounts of stress fibers and focal adhesions, with concomitant increases in cellular protrusions. Cells depleted of myosin IIB, however, were efficient in thrombin-induced cell rounding, displayed a more retractile phenotype, and maintained focal adhesions but only in the periphery. Last, we present evidence that Rho kinase preferentially regulates phosphorylation of the regulatory light chain associated with myosin IIA. Our data suggest that the myosin IIA and IIB isoforms are regulated by different signaling pathways to perform distinct cellular activities and that myosin IIA is preferentially required for Rho-mediated contractile functions.
Role of Risk Factors in the Modulation of Tissue Factor Activity and Blood Thrombogenicity

Background—Several studies suggest a role for an increased circulating pool of tissue factor (TF) in atherothrombotic diseases. Furthermore, certain cardiovascular risk factors, such as diabetes, hyperlipemia, and smoking, are associated with a higher incidence of thrombotic complications. We hypothesized that the observed increased blood thrombogenicity (BT) observed in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus may be mediated via an increased circulating tissue factor activity. We have extended our study to smokers and hyperlipidemic subjects. Methods and Results—Poorly controlled patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (n=36), smokers (n=10), and untreated hyperlipidemic subjects (n=10) were studied. Circulating TF was immunocaptured from plasma, relipidated, and quantified by factor Xa (FXa) generation in the presence of factor VIIa. BT was assessed as thrombus formation on the Badimon perfusion chamber. Patients with improvement in glycemic control showed a reduction in circulating TF (362±135 versus 243±74 pmol/L per min FXa, P =0.0001). A similar effect was observed in BT (15 445±1130 versus 12 072±596 &mgr;m/mm2, P =0.01). Two hours after smoking 2 cigarettes, TF was increased (217±72 versus 283±106 pmol/L per min FXa, P =0.003). Hyperlipidemic subjects showed higher TF (237±63 versus 195±44 pmol/L per min FXa, P =0.035) than healthy volunteers. Conclusions—These findings suggest that high levels of circulating TF may be the mechanism of action responsible for the increased thrombotic complications associated with the presence of these cardiovascular risk factors. These observations strongly emphasize the usefulness of the management of the patients based on their global risk assessment.
Singer identification in Indian Hindi songs using MFCC and spectral features

In this paper, there is an attempt to give a simple and efficient solution to the problem of singer identification in Indian Hindi songs using audio samples. The experiment is done using five well known singers. This work uses MFCC and some spectral features which are extracted for each audio sample taken of size 2 seconds. After a set of pre-processing steps, supervised training is done using multilayer feed-forward artificial neural network and back propagation algorithm. The results obtained strongly suggest that the final model is able to perform the task of singer identification in Indian Hindi songs with good accuracy.
Enabling application-level performance guarantees in network-based systems on chip by applying dataflow analysis

A growing number of applications, often with real-time requirements, are integrated on the same system on chip (SoC), in the form of hardware and software intellectual property (IP). To facilitate real-time applications, networks on chip (NoC) guarantee bounds on latency and throughput. These bounds, however, only extend to the network interfaces (NI), between the IP and the NoC. To give performance guarantees on the application level, the buffers in the NIs must be sufficiently large for the particular application. At the same time, it is imperative to minimise the size of the NI buffers, as they are major contributors to the area and power consumption of the NoC. Existing buffer-sizing methods use coarse-grained application models, based on linear traffic bounds or periodic producers and consumers, thus severely limiting their applicability. In this work, the authors propose to capture the behaviour of the NoC and the applications using a dataflow model. This enables one to verify the temporal behaviour and to compute buffer sizes using existing dataflow analysis techniques. The authors show what is required from the NoC architecture and demonstrate how to construct an NoC model, with multiple levels of detail. Using the proposed model, buffer sizes are determined for a range of SoC designs with a run time comparable to existing analytical methods, and results comparable to exhaustive simulation. For an application case study, where existing buffer-sizing methods are not applicable, the proposed model enables the verification of end-to-end temporal behaviour.
The Immunomodulatory Actions of Prostaglandin E2 on Allergic Airway Responses in the Rat1

PGE2 has been reported to inhibit allergen-induced airway responses in sensitized human subjects. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of anti-inflammatory actions of PGE2 in an animal model of allergic asthma. BN rats were sensitized to OVA using Bordetella pertussis as an adjuvant. One week later, an aerosol of OVA was administered. After a further week, animals were anesthetized with urethan, intubated, and subjected to measurements of pulmonary resistance (RL) for a period of 8 h after OVA challenge. PGE2 (1 and 3 μg in 100 μl of saline) was administered by insufflation intratracheally 30 min before OVA challenge. The early response was inhibited by PGE2 (3 μg). The late response was inhibited by both PGE2 (1 and 3 μg). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from OVA-challenged rats showed eosinophilia and an increase in the number of cells expressing IL-4 and IL-5 mRNA. These responses were inhibited by PGE2. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid levels of cysteinyl-leukotrienes were elevated after OVA challenge and were reduced after PGE2 to levels comparable with those of sham challenged animals. We conclude that PGE2 is a potent anti-inflammatory agent that may act by reducing allergen-induced Th2 cell activation and cysteinyl-leukotriene synthesis in the rat.
Anoxybacillus pushchinensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel anaerobic, alkaliphilic, moderately thermophilic bacterium from manure, and description of Anoxybacillus flavitherms comb. nov.

A new strictly anaerobic, alkaliphilic, moderately thermophilic, fermentative, spore-forming bacterium, strain K1T, was isolated from manure samples (pH 6-8). Cells were Gram-positive, straight, non-motile rods that grew at temperatures of 37-66 degrees C (optimum at 62 degrees C) and in a pH range of 8.0-10.5 (optimum at 9.5-9.7). The bacterium fermented D-glucose, sucrose, D-fructose, D-trehalose and starch as carbon and energy sources. It required vitamins and its growth is stimulated by yeast extract. The major metabolic products were H2 and acetate. Cells were catalase-negative and could reduce nitrate to nitrite. The G+C content of the DNA was 42.2 mol%. Based on the phenotypic properties and 16S rDNA sequencing and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain K1T (= DSM 12423T = ATCC 700785T = VKM B-2193T) was assigned to the new genus Anoxybacillus gen. nov., as a representative of a new species, Anoxybacillus pushchinensis sp. nov. 'Bacillus flavothermus' strain d.y. , which was found to be closely related to strain K1T, is described as Anoxybacillus flavithermus comb. nov. (type strain = d.y.T = DSM 2641T).
Femtosecond nuclear motion of HCl probed by resonant x-ray Raman scattering in the Cl 1s region

The present thesis is a theoretical study of several x-ray spectroscopies { x-ray absorption, xray photoelectron, radiative and non-radiative resonant Raman scattering spectroscopy. The main focus point is investigating the role of the nuclear dynamics in molecules (naphthalene, biphenyl, the water dimer, HCl) on these spectra. The theoretical tools we use consist of the basic equations of the relevant x-ray spectroscopy. Wave packet methods are also used. The molecular parameters needed for our simulations are obtained through suitable quantum chemical calculations, mainly based on either wave function or density functional methods. Our simulations are compared with experimental data, where available. Simulations of x-ray absorption and x-ray photoionization spectra for naphthalene and biphenyl show that the spectral shapes are heavily inuenced by the joint e ect of two factors { chemical shifts and excitations of vibrational progression. In both of the studied molecules, similar vibrational modes are excited, giving rise to a signi cant vibrational broadening of the spectra. Comparison between the two molecules and also comparison to the reference case { benzene, provides useful insight into the molecular behavior under core excitation. In a further step, we consider the O1s x-ray photoelectron spectrum of the water dimer. A substantial broadening of the two bands originating from the donor and the acceptor oxygen is found. It is caused by excitations of soft intermolecular vibrational modes, associated with the hydrogen bond. Another strong inuence of the nuclear dynamics is clearly seen in the resonant x-ray Raman scattering of HCl. Vibrational collapse is observed experimentally and con rmed theoretically for two cases: resonant excitation of the K line and o -resonant excitation of the elastic peak. These two collapses can be strictly realized for excitations in the hard x-ray region. Our considerations show that using this technique, one can eliminate the broadenings caused by the lifetime of the core excited state and the vibrational broadening, and hence, considerably increase the spectral resolution. Finally, we predict an interference e ect in the resonant Auger scattering from xed-inspace molecules. By exciting a molecule to a dissociative state and measuring the angular distribution of the Auger electrons in coincidence with the molecular ion, one can observe this e ect. The interference pattern can be used after Fourier transformation for extracting structural data about the studied system.
A Review of the Conceptualisation and Risk Factors Associated with Treatment-Resistant Depression

Major depression does not always remit. Difficult-to-treat depression is thought to contribute to the large disease burden posed by depression. Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is the conventional term for nonresponse to treatment in individuals with major depression. Indicators of the phenomenon are the poor response rates to antidepressants in clinical practice and the overestimation of the efficacy of antidepressants in medical scientific literature. Current TRD staging models are based on anecdotal evidence without an empirical rationale to rank one treatment strategy above another. Many factors have been associated with TRD such as inflammatory system activation, abnormal neural activity, neurotransmitter dysfunction, melancholic clinical features, bipolarity, and a higher traumatic load. This narrative review provides an overview of this complex clinical problem and discusses the reconceptualization of depression using an illness staging model in line with other medical fields such as oncology.
Variability in earthquake stress drop and apparent stress

We apply empirical Green's function coda‐based analysis to four earthquake sequences in Japan that span a magnitude range of 1.8 to 6.9, to measure radiated energy, corner frequency and stress drop. We find no systematic dependence of apparent stress or stress drop on seismic moment for these sequences, and find they both are log‐normally distributed; however, we identify several anomalous events ‐ both energetic and enervated ‐ that show sharply different spectral signatures from the rest of the population. These events indicate that much of the variation in apparent stress and stress drop is statistically significant, which may have important implications for seismic hazard analysis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is already expensive during the first year of the disease (the Swedish TIRA project).

OBJECTIVE To calculate direct and indirect costs in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to characterize patients generating high and low costs respectively. METHODS Two hundred and ninety-seven patients with recent-onset (< or = 12 months) RA were recruited. Clinical/laboratory data and 'health assessment questionnaire' (HAQ) were registered at inclusion and after 3, 6 and 12 months. After 6 and 12 months, the patients completed a questionnaire concerning health-care utilization and days lost from work. A cut-off point for direct costs was set at 34,000 Swedish kronor (euro3675) defining one-third of the patients as a high-cost group and two-thirds as low-cost group. Indirect costs were calculated for patients aged <65 yr. RESULTS Two hundred and eleven patients completed the HAQ on both occasions. Indirect costs exceeded direct costs by a factor of 2.3. Sixty three per cent experienced work disability during the first year and were identified as the 'high-indirect-cost group'. Indirect costs accounted for >70% of total costs. Direct costs included ambulatory health care (76%), hospitalization (12%) and medication (9%). Men aged > or = 65 yr had low costs compared with younger men and women of all ages. In multiple logistic regression tests, HAQ, high levels of IgM rheumatoid factor (IgM RF) and poor hand function increased the odds of entering the high-direct-cost group, and poor hand function and pain increased the odds of entering the high-indirect-cost group. CONCLUSIONS Substantial costs were incurred during the first year after diagnosis of early RA, mainly due to work disability. Indirect costs were two to three times higher than direct costs. High levels of IgM RF, high HAQ score, poor hand function and pain increased the odds of entering high-cost groups.
The Polysaccharide Capsule of Campylobacter jejuni Modulates the Host Immune Response

ABSTRACT Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of bacterial diarrheal disease worldwide. The organism is characterized by a diversity of polysaccharide structures, including a polysaccharide capsule. Most C. jejuni capsules are known to be decorated nonstoichiometrically with methyl phosphoramidate (MeOPN). The capsule of C. jejuni 81-176 has been shown to be required for serum resistance, but here we show that an encapsulated mutant lacking the MeOPN modification, an mpnC mutant, was equally as sensitive to serum killing as the nonencapsulated mutant. A nonencapsulated mutant, a kpsM mutant, exhibited significantly reduced colonization compared to that of wild-type 81-176 in a mouse intestinal colonization model, and the mpnC mutant showed an intermediate level of colonization. Both mutants were associated with higher levels of interleukin 17 (IL-17) expression from lamina propria CD4+ cells than from cells from animals infected with 81-176. In addition, reduced levels of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and TLR2 activation were observed following in vitro stimulation of human reporter cell lines with the kpsM and mpnC mutants compared to those with wild-type 81-176. The data suggest that the capsule polysaccharide of C. jejuni and the MeOPN modification modulate the host immune response.
An Adaptive Clonal Selection Algorithm and Its Applications

Based on the principle of clonal selection, an improved adaptive immune clonal selection algorithm is put forwarded by using real-coded method, where adaptive mutation operator is used according to the changes of function value and mutation coefficient decays with the iteration. In addition, the strategy of mutation by section is used according to the iteration. To test its efficiency, optimization computing is conducted for five typical test functions. Subsequently, a complex nonlinear optimization model is solved based on the algorithm. The results show the validity of this algorithm to solve the above problems.
Loss of dopamine phenotype among midbrain neurons in Lesch–Nyhan disease

Lesch–Nyhan disease (LND) is caused by congenital deficiency of the purine recycling enzyme, hypoxanthine‐guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGprt). Affected patients have a peculiar neurobehavioral syndrome linked with reductions of dopamine in the basal ganglia. The purpose of the current studies was to determine the anatomical basis for the reduced dopamine in human brain specimens collected at autopsy.
Pole Figure Inversion Using Finite Elements Over Rodrigues Space

Using finite elements over Rodrigues space, methods are developed for the formation and inversion of pole figures. The methods take advantage of the properties of Rodrigues space, particularly the fact that geodesics corresponding to pole figure projection paths are straight lines. Both discrete and continuous pole figure data may be inverted to obtain orientation distribution functions (ODFs) in Rodrigues space, and we include sample applications for both types of data.
Lead Excretion in Spanish Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Among epigenetic factors leading to increased prevalence of juvenile neuropsychiatric disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, exposure to metals, such as lead (Pb) have led to conflicting results. The aim of the present study was to determine the levels of Pb in the urine of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared with typically developing children (TD) age- and sex-matched, and to analyze any association between core symptoms of ASD, special diets, supplements intake or prescription drugs and the concentration of Pb. The study was performed in a group of children with ASD (n = 35, average age 7.4 ± 0.5 years) and TD (n = 34, average age 7.7 ± 0.9 years). Measurement of lead in urine was performed by atomic absorption spectrometry; symptoms of ASD were analyzed by diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DMS-IV) using the questionnary ADI-R. Careful clinical evaluation was also undertaken and statistical analysis was done taking into account any possible confounding factor.
A touching harmony: MIDAS in artistic practice

Advances in technology provide artists with new opportunities for developing engaging works, however these often push the artist's technical ability. We address this issue in demonstrating that MIDAS can be applied to artistic practices with relative ease and at a low cost. The authors present, as a case study, A Touching Harmony - a flexible screen-based installation that explores depth as variable within user-interaction. We discuss the use of MIDAS within the implementation of the installation.
Hardware-assisted interrupt delivery optimization for virtualized embedded platforms

Virtualization is already a reality in modern embedded systems. Besides the direct relationship with cost reduction and improved resource utilization, virtualization enables the integration of real-time and general-purpose operating systems and applications on the same hardware platform. The resulting system may inherit deterministic timing characteristics for real-time along with a large software code base for general-purpose operating systems. However, the hypervisor must be carefully designed to take advantage of both types of operating systems. In this paper, we propose an interrupt policy for an embedded hypervisor using hardware-assisted virtualization. Our technique is flexible and can be adopted by applications with different timing constraints. Experimental results show that the interrupt delivery jitter on virtualized systems is close to non-virtualized when the proposed approach is used.
Robust Estimation of Focus of Expansion and Depth from High Confidence Optical Flow

Camera translation is very useful for active perception of scene structure. Determining the camera motion, expressed as the Focus-Of-Expansion on the image plane, is important. A simple and robust method is presented for the estimation of FOE in translational motion, by the least squares technique using high confidence optical flow. Depth or time-to-collision is then recovered by two alternative methods using the FOE and optical flow or local image derivatives. Results with real image sequence are shown. In this paper we present a simple but robust method to estimate the FOE or camera motion from optical flow field computed from second derivatives in a sequence of images captured by a translating camera. It is well known that while camera rotation is veryuse-ful in tracking and fixation, it cames no information about scene structure. In contrast, camera translation is an essential way for active perception of scene structure through motion. Therefore, we feel that it is worthwhile to locate the FOE for pure translation, though it is a special case for rigid motion.
PHOSPHATE TRANSPORTER TRAFFIC FACILITATOR1 Is a Plant-Specific SEC12-Related Protein That Enables the Endoplasmic Reticulum Exit of a High-Affinity Phosphate Transporter in Arabidopsis[W]

PHOSPHATE TRANSPORTER1 (PHT1) genes encode phosphate (Pi) transporters that play a fundamental role in Pi acquisition and remobilization in plants. Mutation of the Arabidopsis thaliana PHOSPHATE TRANSPORTER TRAFFIC FACILITATOR1 (PHF1) impairs Pi transport, resulting in the constitutive expression of many Pi starvation–induced genes, increased arsenate resistance, and reduced Pi accumulation. PHF1 expression was detected in all tissues, particularly in roots, flowers, and senescing leaves, and was induced by Pi starvation, thus mimicking the expression patterns of the whole PHT1 gene family. PHF1 was localized in endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and mutation of PHF1 resulted in ER retention and reduced accumulation of the plasma membrane PHT1;1 transporter. By contrast, the PIP2A plasma membrane protein was not mislocalized, and the secretion of Pi starvation–induced RNases was not affected in the mutant. PHF1 encodes a plant-specific protein structurally related to the SEC12 proteins of the early secretory pathway. However, PHF1 lacks most of the conserved residues in SEC12 proteins essential as guanine nucleotide exchange factors. Although it functions in early secretory trafficking, PHF1 likely evolved a novel mechanism accompanying functional specialization on Pi transporters. The identification of PHF1 reveals that plants are also endowed with accessory proteins specific for selected plasma membrane proteins, allowing their exit from the ER, and that these ER exit cofactors may have a phylum-specific origin.