Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Annexin A13 promotes tumor cell invasion in vitro and is associated with metastasis in human colorectal cancer

Purpose Aberrantly upregulated expression of selected members of annexin, a group of calcium- and membrane-binding proteins, have been found to be associated with metastasis, poor prognosis, and other clinical characteristics in colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most diagnosed cancer. However, ANXA13 (encoding protein annexin A13), the original founder gene of the annexin A family, has not been studied carefully as a potential prognostic biomarker in CRC. Methods The protein level of annexin A13 was determined by western blot in a panel of CRC cell lines. Tumor cell invasion was determined by a Matrigel in vitro invasion assay in selected CRC cells with either upregulated (via plasmid transfection) or downregulated (via siRNA treatment) expression of ANXA13. The clinicopathological features and prognostic values associated with ANXA13 expression were also evaluated in a group of 125 CRC patients. Results ANXA13 was expressed at a high level in HCT116 and HT29 cells but undetected or at a lower level in SW620, SW48, and Rko cells. CRC cell invasion was promoted by ANXA13 overexpression in SW620 or Rko cells and was reduced by ANXA13 downregulation in HCT116 or HT29 cells. In CRC patients, ANXA13 expression levels correlated with lymph node metastasis and were associated with poor overall survival. Conclusions ANXA13 is associated with CRC cell invasion in vitro, and with lymph node metastasis and poor survival in CRC patients. Our results indicate that ANXA13 can be exploited as a biomarker for its diagnostic and prognostic values.
Super-resolved retinal image mosaicing

The acquisition of high-resolution retinal fundus images with a large field of view (FOV) is challenging due to technological, physiological and economic reasons. This paper proposes a fully automatic framework to reconstruct retinal images of high spatial resolution and increased FOV from multiple low-resolution images captured with non-mydriatic, mobile and video-capable but low-cost cameras. Within the scope of one examination, we scan different regions on the retina by exploiting eye motion conducted by a patient guidance. Appropriate views for our mosaicing method are selected based on optic disk tracking to trace eye movements. For each view, one super-resolved image is reconstructed by fusion of multiple video frames. Finally, all super-resolved views are registered to a common reference using a novel polynomial registration scheme and combined by means of image mosaicing. We evaluated our framework for a mobile and low-cost video fundus camera. In our experiments, we reconstructed retinal images of up to 30° FOV from 10 complementary views of 15° FOV. An evaluation of the mosaics by human experts as well as a quantitative comparison to conventional color fundus images encourage the clinical usability of our framework.
The aetiology of bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common vaginal infection among women of childbearing age. This condition is notorious for causing severe complications related to the reproductive health of women. Five decades of intense research established many risk factors for acquisition of BV; however, because of the complexity of BV and lack of a reliable animal model for this condition, its exact aetiology remains elusive. In this manuscript, we use a historical perspective to critically review the development of major theories on the aetiology of BV, ultimately implicating BV‐related pathogens, healthy vaginal microbiota, bacteriophages and the immune response of the host. None of these theories on their own can reliably explain the epidemiological data. Instead, BV is caused by a complex interaction of multiple factors, which include the numerous components of the vaginal microbial ecosystem and their human host. Many of these factors are yet to be characterized because a clear understanding of their relative contribution to the aetiology of BV is pivotal to the formulation of an effective treatment for and prophylaxis of this condition.
Systems testing of a free hg jet system for use in a high-power target experiment

The design and operational testing of a mercury jet delivery system is presented. The equipment is part of the Mercury Intense Target (MERIT) Experiment, which is a proof-of-principle experiment to be conducted at CERN in the summer of 2007 to determine the feasibility of using an unconstrained jet of mercury as a target in a Neutrino Factory or Muon Collider. The Hg system is capable of producing a 1 cm diameter, 20 m/s jet of Hg inside a high-field solenoid magnet. A high-speed optical diagnostic system allows observation of the interaction of the jet with a 24 GeV proton beam. Performance of the Hg system will be presented, along with results of integrated systems testing without a beam.
Activation of PAC1 Receptors in Rat Cerebellar Granule Cells Stimulates Both Calcium Mobilization from Intracellular Stores and Calcium Influx through N-Type Calcium Channels

High concentrations of pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) and a high density of PACAP binding sites have been detected in the developing rat cerebellum. In particular, PACAP receptors are actively expressed in immature granule cells, where they activate both adenylyl cyclase and phospholipase C. The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of PACAP to induce calcium mobilization in cerebellar granule neurons. Administration of PACAP-induced a transient, rapid, and monophasic rise of the cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), while vasoactive intestinal peptide was devoid of effect, indicating the involvement of the PAC1 receptor in the Ca2+ response. Preincubation of granule cells with the Ca2+ ATPase inhibitor, thapsigargin, or the d-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor antagonist, 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borate, markedly reduced the stimulatory effect of PACAP on [Ca2+]i. Furthermore, addition of the calcium chelator, EGTA, or exposure of cells to the non-selective Ca2+ channel blocker, NiCl2, significantly attenuated the PACAP-evoked [Ca2+]i increase. Preincubation of granule neurons with the N-type Ca2+ channel blocker, ω-conotoxin GVIA, decreased the PACAP-induced [Ca2+]i response, whereas the L-type Ca2+ channel blocker, nifedipine, and the P- and Q-type Ca2+ channel blocker, ω-conotoxin MVIIC, had no effect. Altogether, these findings indicate that PACAP, acting through PAC1 receptors, provokes an increase in [Ca2+]i in granule neurons, which is mediated by both mobilization of calcium from IP3-sensitive intracellular stores and activation of N-type Ca2+ channel. Some of the activities of PACAP on proliferation, survival, migration, and differentiation of cerebellar granule cells could thus be mediated, at least in part, through these intracellular and/or extracellular calcium fluxes.
Strategic Impact of Internet Referral Services on Channel Profits

Internet Referral Services, hosted either by independent third-party infomediaries or by manufacturers serve as “lead-generators” in electronic marketplaces, directing consumer traffic to particular retailers. In a model of price dispersion with mixed strategy equilibria, we investigate the competitive implications of these institutions on retailer and manufacturer pricing strategies as well as their impact on channel structures and distribution of profits. Offline, retailers face a higher customer acquisition cost. In return, they can engage in price discrimination. Online, they save on the acquisition costs, but lose the ability to price discriminate. This critical tradeoff drives firms’ equilibrium strategies. The establishment of a referral service is a strategic decision by the manufacturer, in response to a third-party infomediary. It leads to an increase in channel profits and a reallocation of the increased surplus to the manufacturer, via the franchise fees. Further, it enables the manufacturer to respond to an infomediary, by giving itself a wider leeway to set the unit wholesale fee to the profit maximizing level. Interestingly, our results show that the manufacturer even benefits from the presence of the competing referral infomediary. Consistent with anecdotal evidence, our model predicts that while it is optimal for an infomediary to enroll only one retailer, it is optimal for a manufacturer to enroll both retailers. We discuss implications of referral services on channel coordination issues, and whether a two part tariff can be successfully used to maximize channel profits. Contrary to prior literature, we find that when retailers can price discriminate among consumers, the manufacturer may not set the wholesale price to marginal cost to coordinate the channel. Based on publicly available data, we numerically examine the predictions from our analytic model, and obtain results in accordance with anecdotal evidence. Our paper also has implications for the integration of the e-supply chain with the distribution chain, in industries such as the auto industry.
The Oxygen Abundance of HE 1327–2326

From a newly obtained VLT/UVES spectrum, we have determined the oxygen abundance of HE 1327-2326, the most iron-poor star known to date. Ultraviolet OH lines yield one-dimensional LTE abundances of [O/Fe]OH = 3.7 (subgiant case) and [O/Fe]OH = 3.4 (dwarf case). Using a correction of -1.0 dex to account for three-dimensional (3D) effects on OH line formation, the abundances are lowered to [O/Fe] = 2.8 and [O/Fe] = 2.5, respectively, which we adopt. Without 3D corrections, the UV OH-based abundance would be in disagreement with the upper limits derived from the O I triplet lines: [O/Fe]trip < 2.8 (subgiant) and [O/Fe]trip < 3.0 (dwarf). We also correct the previously determined carbon and nitrogen abundances for 3D effects. Knowledge of the O abundance of HE 1327-2326 has implications for the interpretation of its abundance pattern. A large O abundance is in accordance with HE 1327-2326 being an early Population II star that formed from material chemically enriched by a first-generation supernova. Our derived abundances, however, do not exclude other possibilities such as a Population III scenario.
A NOVEL METHOD FOR PRODUCTION OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES. EVALUATION AND EXPECTATION OF THE RAT LYMPH NODE METHOD IN CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

A newly developed method using rat lymph nodes provided us with substantial amounts of high quality monoclonal antibodies. The method has characteristic features, a single injection of an emulsified antigen via the rat's hind footpads is sufficient for immunization. Enlarged medial iliac lymph nodes can be used for cell fusion to produce hybridomas 2 weeks and later after the antigen injection. The production frequency of target hybridomas is about 10 times higher than that of a conventional spleen method. Our current knowledge about the production of monoclonal antipeptide antibodies and monoclonal nephritogenic autoantibodies by the method is described.
Correlation between Claudins Expression and Prognostic Factors in Prostate Cancer

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the expression of claudins and prognostic factors in patients with prostate cancer. Materials and Methods The subjects of this study were 48 patients who had undergone surgery for prostate cancer. The Gleason score (6 or lower, 7 or higher), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level, T stage, biochemical recurrence, local recurrence, and distant metastasis were compared according to the expression of claudin-1 and claudin-5 in prostate cancer. Results In the group with a low expression of claudin-1, the Gleason score was 7 points or higher in 18 cases (82%) and 6 points or lower in 4 cases (18%). In the group with a high expression of claudin-1, the Gleason score was 7 points or higher in 13 cases (50%) and 6 points or lower in 13 cases (50%). Thus, the low-expression group had more cases with a Gleason score of 7 or higher (p=0.022). The group with a low expression of claudin-5 also had more cases with a Gleason score of 7 or higher (p=0.011). The mean PSA values in the groups with a low and high expression of claudin-1 were 9.6 ng/ml and 5.6 ng/ml, respectively (p=0.007). A low expression of claudin-5 was also associated with a high PSA value (p=0.002). There was no statistical difference in the expression of claudin-1 and claudin-5 by T stage, biochemical recurrence, local recurrence, or distant metastasis. Conclusions The low expression of claudin-1, claudin-5 was associated with a Gleason score of 7 or higher and a high PSA value in prostate cancer.
A High Efficient Tables Look-up Algorithm for CAVLC Decoding

In order to solve the problems of high table memory access and long table look-up time and big table storage space in the process of CAVLC decoding for H.264/AVC, a high efficient table look-up algorithm is presented in this paper. The contribution of this paper lies that we uses a program method to realize fully the no-table looking-up of codeword. Specifically, after finding the relationships existed in code length and numbers of 0 in code prefix and code suffix and code, we uses a program code method to realize entirely UVLCTs(Unstructured Variable Length Coding Tables) in CAVLC decoding, As a result, all decoded codewords in UVLCTS can be decoded and obtained easily through a program execution way instead of TLSS(table look-up by sequential search), which could save a lot of table memory access and reduce amount of table look-up time and save a large number of table storage spaces for CAVLC decoding. The simulation results show that our proposed scheme can save 100% table memory access, reduce about 45% table look-up time and save 2320 byte table storage space of table look-up in CAVLC decoding compared with TLSS method, without degrading video quality. Index Terms—Memory access; Table look-up; Storage space; CAVLC decoding; Program method
Observations of Flow and Turbulence in the Nocturnal Boundary Layer over a Slope

Measurements were conducted on an eastern slope of the Salt Lake Basin (SLB) as a part of the Vertical Transport and Mixing Experiment (VTMX) conducted in October 2000. Of interest was the nocturnal boundary layer on a slope (in particular, katabatic flows) in the absence of significant synoptic influence. Extensive measurements of mean flow, turbulence, temperature, and solar radiation were made, from which circulation patterns on the slope and the nature of stratified turbulence in katabatic winds were inferred. The results show that near the surface (,25‐50 m) the nocturnal flow is highly stratified and directed downslope, but at higher levels winds strongly vary in magnitude and direction with height and time, implying the domination of upper levels by air intrusions. These intrusions may peel off from different slopes surrounding the SLB, have different densities, and flow at their equilibrium density levels. The turbulence was generally weak and continuous, but sudden increases of turbulence levels were detected as the mean gradient Richardson number ( ) dropped to Rig about unity. With a short timescale fluctuated on the order of a few tens of seconds while modulating with Rig a longer (along-slope internal waves sloshing) timescale of about half an hour. The mixing efficiency (or the flux Richardson number) of the flow was found to be a strong function of , similar to that found in laboratory Rig experiments with inhomogeneous stratified shear flows. The eddy diffusivities of momentum and heat were evaluated, and they showed a systematic variation with when scaled with the shear length scale and the rms Rig vertical velocity of turbulence.
A Framework for Scalable Inference of Temporal Gene Regulatory Networks based on Clustering and Multivariate Analysis

Genomic and transcriptomic information have been used as a starting point for the analysis of the origin and development of diseases, which lead to the development of many methods that model the dynamics of gene expression data. Gene Networks (GN) are widely used to model such information, and many methods have been developed for GN inference from temporal gene expression data. However, this data usually results in training sets composed of a small number of temporal samples for a large amount of genes, which renders many GN inference methods unfeasible to apply in real temporal expression data composed of thousands of genes, since they are exponential in function of the number of genes. In order to improve the scalability of the GN inference problem, we propose a novel framework based on the Probabilistic Gene Networks model, in which we rely on a clustering preprocessing step to provide an approximated solution with reduced computational complexity. We compared our proposal with a similar approach without the clustering step, and our experiments show that the proposed framework achieves substantial computation time reduction, while approximately preserving the prediction accuracy.
Design and Performance of a Haptic Data Acquisition Glove

The design and adaptation of a haptic data glove based on the Tekscan grip sensor 4255N is introduced in this paper with detailed discussion on sensor selection, implementation, and calibration issues. The gloves are used in experiments to measure human to human haptic interaction. Data analysis methods and initial results are illustrated. Evaluation results show that the pressure sensor based glove can provide force estimations for applications where force measurement accuracy is not strictly required. The glove is also capable of measuring high spatial resolution force distribution at a fast sampling rate.
Short-Range Six-Axis Interferometer Controlled Positioning for Scanning Probe Microscopy

We present a design of a nanometrology measuring setup which is a part of the national standard instrumentation for nanometrology operated by the Czech Metrology Institute (CMI) in Brno, Czech Republic. The system employs a full six-axis interferometric position measurement of the sample holder consisting of six independent interferometers. Here we report on description of alignment issues and accurate adjustment of orthogonality of the measuring axes. Consequently, suppression of cosine errors and reduction of sensitivity to Abbe offset is achieved through full control in all six degrees of freedom. Due to the geometric configuration including a wide basis of the two units measuring in y-direction and the three measuring in z-direction the angle resolution of the whole setup is minimize to tens of nanoradians. Moreover, the servo-control of all six degrees of freedom allows to keep guidance errors below 100 nrad. This small range system is based on a commercial nanopositioning stage driven by piezoelectric transducers with the range (200 × 200 × 10) μm. Thermally compensated miniature interferometric units with fiber-optic light delivery and integrated homodyne detection system were developed especially for this system and serve as sensors for othogonality alignment.
Playing it safe [human-friendly robots]

We have presented a new actuation concept for human-friendly robot design, referred to as DM/sup 2/. The new concept of DM/sup 2/ was demonstrated on a two-degree-of-freedom prototype robot arm that we designed and built to validate our approach. The new actuation approach substantially reduces the impact loads associated with uncontrolled manipulator collision by relocating the major source of actuation effort from the joint to the base of the manipulator. The emerging field of human-centered robotics focuses on application such as medical robotics and service robotics, which require close interaction between robotic manipulation systems and human beings, including direct human-manipulator contact. As a result, this system must consider the requirements of safety. To achieve safety we must employ multiple strategies involving all aspects of manipulator design.
Intracerebral hemorrhage in young people: analysis of risk factors, location, causes, and prognosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The frequency of intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs) in people aged </=40 years has been poorly studied. We investigated the incidence, causes, locations, and prognosis of ICH in young patients. METHODS We evaluated all consecutive patients with neuroimaging evidence or pathological confirmation of symptomatic ICH. We excluded patients with primary subarachnoid or traumatic hemorrhage, past evidence of vascular malformation, or brain tumor. We analyzed the risk factors, number, locations, and causes of ICH, and final outcome measured by the modified Glasgow Outcome Scale. RESULTS We retrospectively evaluated 200 patients (mean age, 27 years; range, 15 to 40 years). The most frequent risk factors were tobacco use (20%), hypocholesterolemia (35%), hypertension, (13%), and alcohol use (10%). The locations of ICH were lobar (55%), basal ganglia/internal capsule (22%), and others (24%). The most common causes of ICH were vascular malformations (49%), including cavernous angioma, and hypertension (11%). Cryptogenic ICH was considered in 15%. Other causes included cerebral venous thrombosis (5%) and sympathomimetic drug use (4%). The majority of patients with ICH that resulted from hypertension were aged >31 years (odds ratio, 3.48), and those with ICH that resulted from arteriovenous malformations were aged <20 years (odds ratio, 2.80). The final outcome was considered favorable in 60%. CONCLUSIONS ICHs in young people are mainly lobar in location and result from vascular malformation. Hypertension causes most cases in which the ICH is located in the basal ganglia. Mortality and morbidity in the acute phase are low and are related to hypertension as the cause of ICH.
Activities of daily living indexing by hierarchical HMM for dementia diagnostics

This paper presents a method for indexing human activities in videos captured from a wearable camera being worn by patients, for studies of progression of the dementia diseases. Our method aims to produce indexes to facilitate the navigation throughout the individual video recordings, which could help doctors search for early signs of the disease in the activities of daily living. The recorded videos have strong motion and sharp lighting changes, inducing noise for the analysis. The proposed approach is based on a two steps analysis. First, we propose a new approach to segment this type of video, based on apparent motion. Each segment is characterized by two original motion descriptors, as well as color, and audio descriptors. Second, a Hidden-Markov Model formulation is used to merge the multimodal audio and video features, and classify the test segments. Experiments show the good properties of the approach on real data.