Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intratumoral 5-fluorouracil produced by cytosine deaminase/5-fluorocytosine gene therapy is effective for experimental human glioblastomas.

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a potent antimetabolite used for chemotherapy of gastrointestinal (GI), breast, and head and neck malignancies. Although clinical trials have been conducted, the poor therapeutic index of 5-FU has precluded its clinical use for a number of other tumor types. It is unclear whether this lack of utility is due to problems with drug delivery or inherent insensitivity. Adenovirus (Ad) vector-mediated cytosine deaminase (CD)/5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) gene therapy has the potential to overcome pharmacokinetic issues associated with systemic 5-FU and is particularly well suited to use with tumors in which local control is paramount, such as recurrent, localized prostate cancer and malignant gliomas. In this study, the in vitro response by a panel of human tumor cell lines derived from both GI (colon, pancreas) and non-GI (prostate, glioma) tumors to 5-FU and to AdCMVCD (an Ad encoding Escherichia coli CD)/5-FC was examined. Whereas the sensitivity (IC(50)) of individual cell lines to these agents varied, no significant difference in median IC(50) for either 5-FU or AdCMVCD/5-FC was evident for the four tumor types tested (P > 0.1). The relevant contributions of Ad gene transfer efficiency and inherent 5-FU sensitivity in determining response to AdCMVCD/5-FC were then assessed. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that whereas both factors significantly contribute to the response, inherent 5-FU sensitivity was substantially more important (beta= 0.78 versus 0.48; P < 0.001). Finally, the therapeutic efficacy of a single intratumoral injection of AdCMVCD followed by systemic 5-FC was assessed in three intracranial C.B17 severe combined immunodeficient mouse models of human glioma. AdCMVCD/5-FC efficacy was specific, virus dose-dependent, and closely paralleled in vitro 5-FU and CD/5-FC sensitivity in two of three models tested. These results reveal that glioma cells are as sensitive as GI tumor cells to the antineoplastic effects of 5-FU, identify inherent 5-FU sensitivity as an important factor in determining CD/5-FC efficacy, and confirm previous findings in rat models that demonstrate the potential clinical utility of AdCMVCD/5-FC gene therapy for gliomas.
A New Design of Model Predictive Tracking Control for Networked Control System Under Random Packet Loss and Uncertainties

In order to deal with the networked control system (NCS) under random packet loss and uncertainties, an improved model predictive tracking control is provided in this paper. In the proposed control strategy, a novel state space model is introduced, where, unlike the conventional state space models, the tracking error and the state variables are combined and optimized together. Based on the improved state space model, more design degrees can be provided and better control performance can be acquired. A classical angular positioning system with uncertainties and a NCS with packet loss are introduced to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed model predictive tracking control strategy, at the same time, the conventional model predictive control (MPC) approach is introduced as comparisons.
Towards digital narrative for children: from education to entertainment, a historical perspective

Narrative is central to human experience, and a key way that experience is made meaningful. Education and entertainment have both played a significant part in the evolution of children's narrative. In its liminal state during the 1500s, children's print narrative was primarily educational. Locke's theories of education in the 1700s encouraged "children playing and doing as children," and narrative slowly moved towards being entertaining as well as educational. Not until the 1800s, with the stories of Lewis Carroll, was narrative created solely for the entertainment of children. Throughout its development it has provided a way for shaping children's experience, reflecting how they fit into their society, and helping them construct meaning for themselves. As narrative evolved to find its rightful place in the mix of technology, education, and entertainment within children's print culture, so it is evolving within the rapidly developing digital environment. Authors, publishers, and producers are responsible for understanding how children respond to a digital environment, and for making the digital narrative a positive experience. This paper presents the history of children's literature as it has developed from oral tradition through print and now into digital environments. It draws parallels, particularly between education and entertainment, in children's print narratives and similar (but more rapid) developments in the evolution of digital narratives. In doing so, it aims to encourage a more positive attitude to the significant opportunities new technologies offer for reshaping the way in which narrative for children is conceived and presented so that it continues in its time honored role of constructing meaning in their lives.
A Randomized Mirror-Prox Method for Solving Structured Large-Scale Matrix Saddle-Point Problems

In this paper, we derive a randomized version of the mirror-prox method for solving some structured matrix saddle-point problems, such as the maximal eigenvalue minimization problem. Deterministic first-order schemes, such as Nesterov's smoothing techniques or standard mirror-prox methods, require the exact computation of a matrix exponential at every iteration, limiting the size of the problems they can solve. Our method allows us to use stochastic approximations of matrix exponentials. We prove that our randomized scheme decreases significantly the complexity of its deterministic counterpart for large-scale matrix saddle-point problems. Numerical experiments illustrate and confirm our theoretical results.
Evaluation of the surface free energy on root canal dentine walls treated with chelating agents and NaOCl.

AIM To evaluate ex vivo the effects of combined and single use of EDTA, RC-Prep and NaOCl on the surface free energy of canal wall dentine using the captive bubble technique. METHODOLOGY Eighteen extracted human pre-molar teeth were sectioned at the crown and the apical third, the remaining mid-root portion were bisected longitudinally. Thereafter, the root halves were embedded in resin blocks that exposed the dentine surface of the canal wall. The specimens were randomly assigned to six experimental groups (n = 6) after polishing. The root dentine surfaces of the first two groups were treated with 17% EDTA or RC-Prep followed by 2.5% NaOCl irrigation. Groups 3, 4 and 5 were treated with either 17% EDTA, RC-Prep or 2.5% NaOCl alone. Control specimens were irrigated with saline solution. The surface free energies of experimental groups were calculated by measuring air and octane contact angles on the canal wall dentine. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U and Bonferroni post-tests at P = 0.05. RESULTS Compared with the control group; combined and single use of EDTA, RC-Prep and NaOCl irrigation significantly decreased the surface free energy of canal wall dentine surfaces (P < 0.05). Among all groups tested, the use of NaOCl as a final flush following RC-Prep treatment yielded increased wettability. Nevertheless, this value remained lower than that of the control group. CONCLUSION Use of chelating agents alone or in combination with NaOCl decreased the wettability of root canal wall dentine.
Implementation of a RISC Processor Core for SoC Designs – FPGA Prototype vs. ASIC Implementation

In this paper, an implementation of a RISC processor core for SoC designs is presented. We analyze the differences between a prototypical FPGA implementation and standard cell realizations in an 0. 6μm and an 0. 13μm technology, respectively. The core was developed by using the hardware description language VHDL, which offers the opportunity of adding special, optimized hardware blocks for various operations. The effects on area and power consumption as well as computational power are analyzed. A detailed overview of the implementation of additional hardware multipliers and their effects on the above mentioned topics concludes this paper.
Root apoplastic barriers block Na+ transport to shoots in rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Rice is an important crop that is very sensitive to salinity. However, some varieties differ greatly in this feature, making investigations of salinity tolerance mechanisms possible. The cultivar Pokkali is salinity tolerant and is known to have more extensive hydrophobic barriers in its roots than does IR20, a more sensitive cultivar. These barriers located in the root endodermis and exodermis prevent the direct entry of external fluid into the stele. However, it is known that in the case of rice, these barriers are bypassed by most of the Na+ that enters the shoot. Exposing plants to a moderate stress of 100 mM NaCl resulted in deposition of additional hydrophobic aliphatic suberin in both cultivars. The present study demonstrated that Pokkali roots have a lower permeability to water (measured using a pressure chamber) than those of IR20. Conditioning plants with 100 mM NaCl effectively reduced Na+ accumulation in the shoot and improved survival of the plants when they were subsequently subjected to a lethal stress of 200 mM NaCl. The Na+ accumulated during the conditioning period was rapidly released when the plants were returned to the control medium. It has been suggested that the location of the bypass flow is around young lateral roots, the early development of which disrupts the continuity of the endodermal and exodermal Casparian bands. However, in the present study, the observed increase in lateral root densities during stress in both cultivars did not correlate with bypass flow. Overall the data suggest that in rice roots Na+ bypass flow is reduced by the deposition of apoplastic barriers, leading to improved plant survival under salt stress.
CONSTANT TERM OF SMOOTH H ψ -SPHERICAL FUNCTIONS ON A REDUCTIVE p -ADIC GROUP

Let ψ be a smooth character of a closed subgroup, H , of a reductive p -adic group G . If P is a parabolic subgroup of G such that PH is open in G , we deﬁne the constant term of every smooth function on G which transforms by ψ under the right action of G . The example of mixed models is given: it includes symmetric spaces and Whittaker models. In this case a notion of cuspidal function is deﬁned and studied. It leads to ﬁniteness theorems.
Genome Sequences of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv-ptkA Deletion Mutant and Its Parental Strain

ABSTRACT Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the etiological agent of tuberculosis, is one of the most devastating infectious agents in the world. Here, we report the draft genome sequences of the M. tuberculosis protein tyrosine kinase (ptkA) deletion mutant and its parental strain H37Rv, which are used in genetic studies and for drug discovery.
Community Model Architecture – A New Data Fusion Paradigm for Implementation

Data fusion in today’s context has a huge impact in terms of the cognizance and decision paradigms. The data fusion paradigms are either model based or architecture based. The popular data fusion architectures are Thomopoulos Architecture, Distributed Blackboard Data Fusion Architecture, System-based Data Fusion Architecture, Hierarchical Data Fusion Architecture, Distributed Data Fusion Architecture and Decentralized Data Fusion Architecture. In this paper, a new architecture named Community Model Architecture has been proposed based on Community Model and a comparison of existing architectures has been carried out. Moreover, the formulations for the Data Transmission Cost (DTC) and Data Transmission Overhead (DTO) along with their algorithms based on the proposed architecture have also been described and the results show that, it performs better than the available architectures in terms of both DTC and DTO.
Macrophages are important determinants of acute ocular HSV-1 infection in immunized mice.

PURPOSE To determine the effect of macrophage depletion on herpes simplex virus type (HAV)-1 replication in the eye and on the establishment of latency in trigeminal ganglia (TG) of immunized and ocularly infected mice. METHODS BALB/c mice were immunized with five HSV-1 glycoprotein DNA genes or were sham immunized. The virulent HSV-1 strain KOS was used as a positive vaccine control. Immunized mice were depleted of their macrophages by dichloromethylene diphosphonate (Cl(2)MDP) injection. After ocular infection with the HSV-1 strain McKrae, virus replication in the eye, blepharitis, corneal scarring, and dermatitis were determined. Finally, the copy numbers of latency-associated transcript (LAT) and CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell transcripts in the TGs of surviving mice 30 days after infection were determined by RT-PCR. RESULTS Depletion of macrophages in immunized mice increased HSV-1 replication in the eye of infected mice between days 1 and 5 after ocular infection. Depletion of macrophages did not alter the HSV-1-induced death or corneal scarring in immunized mice. Macrophage depletion, however, resulted in increased blepharitis in immunized mice. Finally, macrophage depletion had no effect on the establishment of latency in immunized mice, as the TGs from both depleted and mock-depleted mice were negative for the presence of the LAT transcript. CONCLUSIONS In immunized mice during primary HSV-1 ocular infection, macrophages play an important role in vaccine efficacy against HSV-1 replication in the eye and blepharitis in infected mice. During the latent stage of HSV-1 infection, however, macrophage depletion failed to have any observable effect on HSV-1 latency in the TGs of infected mice.
Diagnostic utility of Ki-67 and Cyclin D1 immunostaining in differentiation of psoriasis vs. other psoriasiform dermatitis

Background: Differentiation of psoriasis from non-psoriasis psoriasiform dermatitis (NPPD) may be difficult for dermatopathologists, as lack of distinctive histopathological features in a subset of cases may cause confusion in diagnosis. Objective: As the prototype of psoriasiform dermatitis, psoriasis is a hyperproliferative skin disorder with increased epidermal turnover compared with NPPD, we investigated the role of proliferation markers, Ki-67 and Cyclin D1 as diagnostic tools to differentiate psoriasis from other psoriasiform dermatitis. Methods: Histopathological specimens of psoriasis (n = 35) and NPPD (n = 36, 14 pityriasis rubra pilaris, 12 pityriasis rosea and 10 lichen simplex) cases were reviewed and immunohistochemically stained for Ki-67 and Cyclin D1. Ki-67 and Cyclin D1 positive cells were counted for suprabasal, and total epidermal immunostaining per mm2. Results: Suprabasal and total epidermal cell counts for Ki-67 were found to be significantly higher in the psoriasis group compared with the NPPD group (p < 0.05). An important and interesting feature was the presence of a cut-off value for the suprabasal/total epidermal cell count ratio of 75% for Ki-67 immunostaining, which was higher in all patients having psoriasis (range, 77.1% – 92.4%) and lower in all NPPD cases (range, 21.0% – 73.3%). However, suprabasal Cyclin D1 cell counts were higher in the psoriasis group compared with the NPPD group (p < 0.05), total epidermal Cyclin D1 cell counts were not statistically significant in either group (p = 0.167), and a cut-off value for suprabasal/total epidermal cell count ratio to distinguish these two entities was not detected using this immunostain. Conclusions: We suggest that Ki-67 is a more sensitive marker than Cyclin D1 in terms of having a cutoff value of 75% for the suprabasal/total epidermal immunoreactive cell count ratio, which we believe could be useful for dermatopathologists in differentiating psoriasis from other psoriasiform dermatitis.
Discomfort, Pressure Distribution and Safety in Operator's Seat-A Critical Review

Overall seating comfort is influenced by both static and dynamic characteristics of seat system. Therefore, the present study is an overview of work related to comfort in seat-operator interface affected by static and dynamic pressure distribution, and other related parameters involved in seat comfort, low back pain, seat design and safety in seats. A critical review has been presented on the subject, with a purpose to provide quick reference for the future researchers . The studies revealed that seat-human interface pressure on the soft seat is more evenly distributed on a larger effective contact area than on a rigid seat. The pressure distribution at human seat interface of a rigid seat is affected by seat height, posture, type of cushion and frequency and vibration. The dynamic pressure at interface is nearly sinusoidal in the vibration range of 1-10 Hz. Under vibration excitation, increase in excitation magnitude causes increased maximum ischium pressure and maximum effective contact area around resonant frequency of 4.5 to 5.0 Hz. Postural stress, whole body vibration and shocks are recognised as important factors, causing low back pain. This however, can be reduced by provision of lumbar support, side support and suitable cushion type.
Let There Be Light! Knowledge-Based 3-D Sketching Design Tools

This paper presents a framework for 3D knowledge-based sketching tools for lighting design and two software prototypes built to illustrate sketch-based interaction with intelligent systems in 3-D domains. Spot supports direct sunlight simulation and visualization in a selected time period and Light Pen supports placement of electric lighting designs to light an intended area in space. In both examples, a 3-D sketching front-end is coupled with a back-end knowledge-based system. This enables a designer to pose a problem by drawing onto a 3-D model to which the knowledge-based system offers a solution – in one case by providing quantitative data analysis; in the other by modifying the 3-D model. Spot and Light Pen's specific domain of architectural lighting design exemplifies a more general class of 3-D interaction with intelligent systems.
Dechlorination of chlorinated compounds by Trametes versicolor ATCC 200801 crude laccase and quantitative structure-activity relationship of toxicity

Chlorinated compounds constitute an important class of xenobiotics. Crude laccase was produced using Trametes versicolor ATCC (200801) in potato dextrose broth, with wheat bran as an inducing medium, and its ability to dechlorinate eight compounds was determined. The compounds were 2-chlorophenol, 4-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,6-dichlorophenol, 2,4,5-trichlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, heptachlor and pentachlorophenol. A range of parameters for the dechlorination of some compounds was tested, including incubation period, pH, initial substrate concentration, temperature, and enzyme quantity. The oxygen consumption was determined during each dechlorination process, under pre-determined optimum conditions. The changes in chemical structure of the compounds were also determined, by using FTIR analysis, following dechlorination of test chlorophenolics. Strong interactions were found to lead to the reactivity of hydroxyl groups in some cases and chlorine atoms were released from the benzene ring. The changes in compound toxicity were monitored before and after enzymatic treatment, using Microtox. Quantitative structure-activity relationships for the toxicity of the chlorinated compounds were developed. Consequently, the toxic activity of the test compounds was controlled by electrophilic index and electronic properties.
The pseudospherical reduction of an uniaxial deformation of the Carbon nanotubes

This paper is focused on the single-walled carbon nanotubes with dierent radius and chirality (armchair (n; n), chiral (2n; n), and zigzag (n; 0)), and perfect circular cross section, subjected to tensile loading. The aim is to determine a parametrical representation for a class of constitutive laws for which the motion equations attached to a material system can be associated to a pseudospherical surface (with negative Gaussian curvature K). A genetic algorithm is performed to study some inverse problems associated to some experimental results.
The Regulation of NF-κB Subunits by Phosphorylation

The NF-κB transcription factor is the master regulator of the inflammatory response and is essential for the homeostasis of the immune system. NF-κB regulates the transcription of genes that control inflammation, immune cell development, cell cycle, proliferation, and cell death. The fundamental role that NF-κB plays in key physiological processes makes it an important factor in determining health and disease. The importance of NF-κB in tissue homeostasis and immunity has frustrated therapeutic approaches aimed at inhibiting NF-κB activation. However, significant research efforts have revealed the crucial contribution of NF-κB phosphorylation to controlling NF-κB directed transactivation. Importantly, NF-κB phosphorylation controls transcription in a gene-specific manner, offering new opportunities to selectively target NF-κB for therapeutic benefit. This review will focus on the phosphorylation of the NF-κB subunits and the impact on NF-κB function.
Changes in Biomarkers of Liver Disease during Successful Combination Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV–HCV-Coinfected Individuals

Background We investigated changes in biomarkers of liver disease in HIV–HCV-coinfected individuals during successful combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) compared to changes in biomarker levels during untreated HIV infection and to HIV-monoinfected individuals. Methods Non-invasive biomarkers of liver disease (hyaluronic acid [HYA], aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index [APRI], Fibrosis-4 [FIB-4] index and cytokeratin-18 [CK-18]) were correlated with liver histology in 49 HIV–HCV-coinfected patients. Changes in biomarkers over time were then assessed longitudinally in HIV–HCV-coinfected patients during successful cART (n=58), during untreated HIV-infection (n=59), and in HIV-monoinfected individuals (n=17). The median follow-up time was 3.4 years on cART. All analyses were conducted before starting HCV treatment. Results Non-invasive biomarkers of liver disease correlated significantly with the histological METAVIR stage (P<0.002 for all comparisons). The mean ±sd area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve values for advanced fibrosis (≥F3 METAVIR) for HYA, APRI, FIB-4 and CK-18 were 0.86 ±0.05, 0.84 ±0.08, 0.80 ±0.09 and 0.81 ±0.07, respectively. HYA, APRI and CK-18 levels were higher in HIV-HCV-coinfected compared to HIV-monoinfected patients (P <0.01). In the first year on cART, APRI and FIB-4 scores decreased (-35% and -33%, respectively; P=0.1), mainly due to the reversion of HIV-induced thrombocytopaenia, whereas HYA and CK-18 levels remained unchanged. During long-term cART, there were only small changes (<5%) in median biomarker levels. Median biomarker levels changed <3% during untreated HIV-infection. Overall, 3 patients died from end-stage liver disease, and 10 from other causes. Conclusions Biomarkers of liver disease highly correlated with fibrosis in HIV-HCV-coinfected individuals and did not change significantly during successful cART. These findings suggest a slower than expected liver disease progression in many HIV-HCV-coinfected individuals, at least during successful cART.