Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Examination of Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Keloid Tissues and Possibility of Keloid Therapy Target

Background: Keloid is a fibroproliferative skin disorder that is characterized by collagen accumulation and blood vessel proliferation in the reticular layer of the dermis. It is caused by prolonged inflammation after cutaneous injury. Several studies suggested recently that epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is involved in the development of fibrosis. This study assessed whether EMT also participates in keloid development and/or aggravation. Methods: Resected keloid (n = 19) and normal skin (n = 13) samples were subjected to immunohistochemical, immunofluorescent, and Western blot analyses of their expression of epidermal (E-cadherin) and mesenchymal (vimentin) proteins. Results: Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the keloid tissues had more vimentin-positive cells in the epidermis than the normal tissues. When normal primary keratinocytes were cultured with proinflammatory cytokines, the cobblestone-shaped cells changed to a spindle shape and many vimentin-positive cells were detected. When immortalized HaCaT keratinocytes were cocultured in split-well plates with normal or keloid-derived fibroblasts, they also underwent EMT, as indicated by their greater vimentin expression on Western blot analysis compared with HaCaT cells that were cultured alone. Conclusions: EMT was observed in keloid specimens. EMT was induced by inflammatory cytokines and fibroblasts. EMT may be involved in keloid generation and/or aggravation and may have potential as a keloid treatment target.
Resolving Intra- and Inter-Molecular Structure with Non-Contact Atomic Force Microscopy

A major challenge in molecular investigations at surfaces has been to image individual molecules, and the assemblies they form, with single-bond resolution. Scanning probe microscopy, with its exceptionally high resolution, is ideally suited to this goal. With the introduction of methods exploiting molecularly-terminated tips, where the apex of the probe is, for example, terminated with a single CO, Xe or H2 molecule, scanning probe methods can now achieve higher resolution than ever before. In this review, some of the landmark results related to attaining intramolecular resolution with non-contact atomic force microscopy (NC-AFM) are summarised before focussing on recent reports probing molecular assemblies where apparent intermolecular features have been observed. Several groups have now highlighted the critical role that flexure in the tip-sample junction plays in producing the exceptionally sharp images of both intra- and apparent inter-molecular structure. In the latter case, the features have been identified as imaging artefacts, rather than real intermolecular bonds. This review discusses the potential for NC-AFM to provide exceptional resolution of supramolecular assemblies stabilised via a variety of intermolecular forces and highlights the potential challenges and pitfalls involved in interpreting bonding interactions.
Computer-Aided Design, Manufacturing and Test of a Ferrite Toroidal Planar Transformer Integrated in a Printed Circuit Board

We present the design and characterization of a two-winding printed circuit board (PCB) transformer. The planar transformer consists of two sheets of fiberglass on which the windings are printed. Between both sheets of fiberglass there is a soft ferrite toroidal core, similar in thickness to a washer. The design of the prototype is based on the conventional toroidal core. For the design of the PCB we use the OrCAD Layout software. We present the experimental results of the different types of tests we carry out to validate the PCB transformer.
Based on the AOP of the Web Log of the Universal Design and Implementation

Almost all the software modules have log records, but usually the logging code and software code are intertwined, if the logging module separates from the software to form a scalable, independent of the components developed is a good choice. This paper describes a technique based on AOP XML configuration file to set up and manage a form of a Web log general framework (Logframework) design and implementation of technology.
Great News for the Great Barrier Reef: Tully River Water Quality

A prerequisite for meaningful environmental legislation is that it be based upon an adequate scientific understanding of the natural system to which it is applied. In 2003, the Australian Commonwealth and Queensland State governments introduced a Reef Water Quality Protection Plan, which aimed to “improve” water quality in river catchments adjacent to the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and in nearby coastal waters. The Plan was introduced in the absence of any substantive evidence for regional degradation of GBR water quality. This paper reviews the available data regarding nutrient contents in the Tully River, north Queensland, which is cited as the best (available) evidence for human-related changes in nutrient export from (GBR) catchments [1]. It is shown that the claim of human-related nutrient enrichment in the Tully River, and regionally, is without substance. No detectable trends in GBR water quality have occurred since systematic measurements were first started in the 1980s. Environmental policies that are based on mischievous claims of chimerical damage to the Great Barrier Reef damage the reputation of science as a tool for disinterested analysis, and provoke widespread cynicism in the community regarding the integrity of contemporary environmental politics.
Chow Quotients of Toric Varieties as Moduli of Stable Log Maps

Let $X$ be a projective normal toric variety and $T_0$ a rank one subtorus of the defining torus of $X$. We show that the normalization of the Chow quotient $X//T_0$, in the sense of Kapranov-Sturmfels-Zelevinsky, coarsely represents the moduli space of stable log maps to $X$ with discrete data given by $T_0\subset X$.
CST, an Herbal Formula, Exerts Anti-Obesity Effects through Brain-Gut-Adipose Tissue Axis Modulation in High-Fat Diet Fed Mice

The brain, gut, and adipose tissue interact to control metabolic pathways, and impairment in the brain-gut-adipose axis can lead to metabolic disorders, including obesity. Chowiseungcheng-tang (CST), a herbal formulation, is frequently used to treat metabolic disorders. Here, we investigated the anti-obesity effect of CST and its link with brain-gut-adipose axis using C57BL/6J mice as a model. The animals were provided with a normal research diet (NRD) or high-fat diet (HFD) in absence or presence of CST or orlistat (ORL) for 12 weeks. CST had a significant anti-obesity effect on a number of vital metabolic and obesity-related parameters in HFD-fed mice. CST significantly decreased the expression levels of genes encoding obesity-promoting neuropeptides (agouti-related peptide, neuropeptide Y), and increased the mRNA levels of obesity-suppressing neuropeptides (proopiomelanocortin, cocaine-and amphetamine-regulated transcript) in the hypothalamus. CST also effectively decreased the expression level of gene encoding obesity-promoting adipokine (retinol-binding protein-4) and increased the mRNA level of obesity-suppressing adipokine (adiponectin) in visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Additionally, CST altered the gut microbial composition in HFD groups, a phenomenon strongly associated with key metabolic parameters, neuropeptides, and adipokines. Our findings reveal that the anti-obesity impact of CST is mediated through modulation of metabolism-related neuropeptides, adipokines, and gut microbial composition.
Using Vibraimage Technology to Analyze the Psychophysiological State of a Person during Opposite Stimuli Presentation

The vibraimage technology is applied to evaluate the multiple intelligences by presenting the line-opposite stimuli. The analysis of testing results of 161 and 91 first-year students from two technical universities, St. Petersburg, Russia, is presented. A new method has been introduced for the assessment of the level of introversion and extraversion of a person being tested. Various equations for calculating the psychophysiological state have been studied and common patterns of the psychophysiological responses to the stimuli were revealed. The experiments showed a prevailing negative correlation between the parameters of a person’s energy consumption and information exchange detected by the vibraimage technology. The article discusses the possibility of extending the obtained results to other psychophysiological tests.
End-to-End Web Application Security

Web applications are important, ubiquitous distributed systems whose current security relies primarily on server-side mechanisms. This paper makes the end-to-end argument that the client and server must collaborate to achieve security goals, to eliminate common security exploits, and to secure the emerging class of rich, cross-domain Web applications referred to as Web 2.0. In order to support end-to-end security, Web clients must be enhanced. We introduce Mutation-Event Transforms: an easy-to-use client-side mechanism that can enforce even fine-grained, application-specific security policies, and whose implementation requires only straightforward changes to existing Web browsers. We give numerous examples of attractive, new security policies that demonstrate the advantages of end-to-end Web application security and of our proposed mechanism.
Whole Ovine Ovaries as a Model for Human: Perfusion with Cryoprotectants In Vivo and In Vitro

These experiments were performed to test the perfusion of ovine as a model for human ovaries by cryoprotectants in vivo at high temperature when the permeability of capillaries is high and when blood is insensibly replaced by the solution of cryoprotectants. By our hypothetical supposition, ovaries could be saturated by cryoprotectants before their surgical removal. The objective was to examine the effectiveness of perfusion of ovine ovaries with vascular pedicle in vivo and in vitro. Arteria ovarica was cannuled and ovaries were perfused by Leibovitz L-15 medium + 100 IU/mL heparin + 5% bovine calf serum + 6% dimethyl sulfoxide + 6% ethylene glycol + 0.15 M sucrose + Indian ink in vivo and in vitro. In the first and second cycle of experiments, ovaries (n = 13 and n = 23) were perfused in vivo and in vitro, respectively, during 60 min with the rate of perfusion 50 mL/h (0.8 mL/min). It was established with in vivo perfusion that only about 10% of ovarian tissues were perfused due to an appearance of multiple anastomoses when the perfusion medium goes from arteria ovarica to arteria uterina without inflow into the ovaries. It was concluded that in vitro perfusion of ovine intact ovaries with vascular pedicle by freezing medium is more effective than this manipulation performed in vivo.
Characterization and localization of cannabinoid receptors in rat brain: a quantitative in vitro autoradiographic study

A potent, synthetic cannabinoid was radiolabeled and used to characterize and precisely localize cannabinoid receptors in slide- mounted sections of rat brain and pituitary. Assay conditions for 3H- CP55,940 binding in Tris-HCl buffer with 5% BSA were optimized, association and dissociation rate constants determined, and the equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd) calculated (21 nM by liquid scintillation counting, 5.2 nM by quantitative autoradiography). The results of competition studies, using several synthetic cannabinoids, add to prior data showing enantioselectivity of binding and correlation of in vitro potencies with potencies in biological assays of cannabinoid actions. Inhibition of binding by guanine nucleotides was selective and profound: Nonhydrolyzable analogs of GTP and GDP inhibited binding by greater than 90%, and GMP and the nonhydrolyzable ATP analog showed no inhibition. Autoradiography showed great heterogeneity of binding in patterns of labeling that closely conform to cytoarchitectural and functional domains. Very dense 3H-CP55,940 binding is localized to the basal ganglia (lateral caudate-putamen, globus pallidus, entopeduncular nucleus, substantia nigra pars reticulata), cerebellar molecular layer, innermost layers of the olfactory bulb, and portions of the hippocampal formation (CA3 and dentate gyrus molecular layer). Moderately dense binding is found throughout the remaining forebrain. Sparse binding characterizes the brain stem and spinal cord. Densitometry confirmed the quantitative heterogeneity of cannabinoid receptors (10 nM 3H-CP55,940 binding ranged in density from 6.3 pmol/mg protein in the substantia nigra pars reticulata to 0.15 pmol/mg protein in the anterior lobe of the pituitary). The results suggest that the presently characterized cannabinoid receptor mediates physiological and behavioral effects of natural and synthetic cannabinoids, because it is strongly coupled to guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins and is discretely localized to cortical, basal ganglia, and cerebellar structures involved with cognition and movement.
Developing video services for mobile users

Video information, image processing and computer vision techniques are developing rapidly nowadays because of the availability of acquisition, processing and editing tools, which use current hardware and software systems. However, problems still remain in conveying this video data from enterprise video databases or emails to their end users. Limiting factors are the resource capabilities in distributed architectures, enterprise policies and the features of the users' terminals. The efficient use of image processing, video indexing and analysis techniques can provide users with solutions or alternatives. The paper presents a new algorithm for achieving video segmentation, indexing and key framing tasks. The algorithm is based on color histograms and uses a binary penetration technique. Although a lot has been done in this area, most work does not adequately consider the optimization of timing performance and processing storage. This is especially the case if the techniques are designed for use in run-time distributed environments. The main contribution is to blend high performance and storage criteria with the need to achieve effective results. Another issue is the heterogeneous run-time conditions. Thus, we designed a platform-independent XML schema of our video service. We will present our implemented prototype to realize a video Web service over the World Wide Web.
A distributed joint source-channel coding scheme for multiple correlated sources

Multiple nodes sensing the common target is the most popular application of the Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Pure distributed compression of multiple correlated sources has been discussed much in the related literature, while taking the noisy communication channels into account is more suitable for the actual scenario. In this paper, a practical Distributed Joint Source-Channel Coding (DJSCC) scheme for multiple correlated sources is proposed. Besides considering the noisy channels and multiple sources, the processing of the noisy side information is also investigated here. By combining the Shannon theorem and the Slepian-Wolf theorem, the theoretical limits of the proposed DJSCC scheme are derived. An efficient coding strategy with a single Low-Density Parity Check (LDPC) code is designed based on the theory to cope with both source and channel coding. The simulation results demonstrate the desired efficiency of our scheme.
Computer Modeling of 3 D Structure of pRNA Monomer , Dimer and Hexamer of Phi 29 DNA Packaging Motor

A striking common feature in the maturation of all linear dsDNA viruses is that their lengthy genome is translocated with remarkable velocity into the limited space within a preformed protein shell and packaged into near crystal density. A DNA-translocating motor, powered by ATP hydrolysis, accomplishes this task which would otherwise be energetically unfavorable. A virus-encoded 120-base RNA, pRNA, forms a hexameric complex to serve as a vital component of the DNA translocating motor of bacterial virus phi29. Sequential action of six pRNA ensures continual function in the DNA translocation process. Phi29 motor has been assembled with purified components synthesized by chemical or biotechnological approaches, and is able to pump the viral DNA into the protein shell in vitro. pRNA dimers are the building blocks of the hexamer. The computer models of the three-dimensional structure of the motor was constructed based on experimental data derived from photo-affinity cross-linking by psoralen, phenphi, and azidophenacyl; chemical modification and chemical modification interference with DMS, CMCT and Kethoxal; complementary modification; and nuclease probing by single-stranded and double-stranded specific RNases. The shape of these computer models is very similar to the published pRNA images of cryo-AFM (atomic force microscopy). pRNA hexamer docking with the connector crystal structure reveals a very impressive match with available biochemical, genetic, and physical data.
Algebraic foundations for quantitative information flow

Several mathematical ideas have been investigated for quantitative information flow. Information theory, probability, guessability are the main ideas in most proposals. They aim to quantify how much information is leaked, how likely is to guess the secret and how long does it take to guess the secret respectively. In this work, we investigate the relationship between these ideas in the context of the quantitative analysis of deterministic systems. We propose the lattice of information as a valuable foundation for these approaches; not only it provides an elegant algebraic framework for the ideas, but also to investigate their relationship. In particular, we will use this lattice to prove some results establishing order relation correspondences between the different quantitative approaches. The implications of these results w.r. t. recent work in the community is also investigated. While this work concentrates on the foundational importance of the lattice of information its practical relevance has been recently proven, notably with the quantitative analysis of Linux kernel vulnerabilities. Overall, we believe these works set the case for establishing the lattice of information as one of the main reference structure for quantitative information flow.
A Resistance-Compensated Phase-Locked Battery Charger

The resistance-compensated phase-locked battery charger (RC-PLBC) proposes as a new and fast charging circuit topology for Li-ion battery in this paper. The circuit topology of the proposed RC-PLBC is not only the same as that of a phase-locked loop (PLL) but also can compensate the pack resistance of Li-ion batteries. Therefore, a complete charging process, consisting of three sub-processes: bulk current charge, variable current charge and float charge, can be automatically implemented with fast charging behavior. The mathematical model of the proposed RC-PLBC is driven, and then the stability of the RC-PLBC is discussed. After that, a complete circuit design procedure is presented to guild the engineer to design a desired RC-PLBC. Finally, a prototype of RC-PLBC is designed according the presented design procedure and realized to verify the charging performance. Comparing with a typical phase-locked battery charger, the charge speed of the proposed RC-PLBC is improved by 18% as well as the safety is held on
Teaching for Conceptual Change in Security Awareness: A Case Study in Higher Education

In educational psychology, conceptual change is a process that revises a student's understanding of a topic in response to new information. Conceptual change pedagogy is particularly effective for security awareness education because instructors must deliver concepts to people who primarily just use computer networks and information systems rather than display expertise in the underlying technology.
Fault detection of two wheel inverted pendulum robot with center of gravity self-adjusting mechanism

In this paper, we proposed an improved PCA fault detection strategy for two wheel inverted pendulum robot with center of gravity self-adjusting mechanism. The two wheel inverted pendulum robot has its inherent advantages in mobile performance. However, the instability is also a weakness of the robot and it limits the robot application scenarios. To improve the safety and reliability of the robot, we employ the improved PCA fault detection method to detect the fault occurrence and locate the fault position according to the analysis of the robot fault phenomenon, fault cause and fault position. Finally, the simulation results based on the real time data from prototype demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Character displacement of male nuptial colour in threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus)

Character displacement in signalling traits occurs when differences between species are greater in sympatry than where either species occurs alone. Finding character displacement in a signalling trait suggests that the trait has diverged as a result of interspecific interactions such as competition, aggression, predation, or reproductive interference. We tested for character displacement of male nuptial coloration between sympatric species of threespine sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus spp.). The sympatric pairs consist of a large ‘benthic’ species, which feeds on benthic invertebrates, and a smaller planktivorous ‘limnetic’ species. Breeding males of both species develop red throats and blue bodies, although limnetic males appear brighter. To test for character displacement, we compared the nuptial colour of benthics and limnetics from two species-pair lakes (sympatric) with that of males from three similar allopatric lakes (only one species present). We measured the intensity of blue and red coloration using reflectance spectra taken from live fish. We found that allopatric males were intermediate between limnetic and benthic males in the intensity of red colour, indicating character displacement in that trait in sympatry. By contrast, we found no evidence for character displacement in blue intensity, although it differed sharply between the species pairs in one lake (Priest). © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2007, 91, 37–48.
Selfie Production: A Qualitative Study of Platform Affordances and Cultural Norms in Shaping Saudi Women’s Selfie Practices Posted on Instagram and Snapchat

With the rise of digital technologies, selfies are a contemporary and popular form of digitally produced self-expression for women in Saudi Arabia. Drawing from a phenomenological approach, informed by Goffman’s (1959) self-presentation theory and Hall’s (1966) proxemics theory, this study explores how Saudi women express their identity through selfie images on Instagram and Snapchat platforms, examining how these practices are shaped by cultural norms and platform affordances. Methodologically, the study consisted of four staged phases with 25 Saudi women involving focus groups, in-depth interviews, online observation, and photo-elicitation interviews. Through the research I developed a framework for understanding selfie production, consisting of seven stages, and I identified six key motives for taking and posting selfies on these platforms. This study draws on critical technological perspectives and theories of spaces to show how Saudi cultural norms, in combination with platform architecture and affordances, shape and inform selfie production in a number of ways. For example, Saudi women are discerning about which platforms they use, depending on which audiences they want to reach, and they build what I conceptualise as “virtual walls” to keep audiences separate. The study makes several important empirical, theoretical, and methodological contributions by shedding light on the selfie production and sharing process, highlighting how users and culture are shaping online practices, providing a new way of thinking about selfies in terms of dramaturgical analysis, and pioneering a mixed method design providing multidimensional understanding of selfie presentation in online spaces.