Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Polycystin-1 Protein Level Determines Activity of the Gα12/JNK Apoptosis Pathway*

Mutations in PKD1 are the most common cause of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The protein product of PKD1 (polycystin-1 (PC1)) is a large transmembrane protein with a short intracellular C terminus that interacts with numerous signaling molecules, including Gα12. Cyst formation in ADPKD results from numerous cellular defects, including abnormal cilia, changes in polarity, and dysregulated apoptosis and proliferation. Recently, we reported increased apoptosis in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells through Gα12 stimulation of JNK and degradation of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 (Yanamadala, V., Negoro, H., Gunaratnam, L., Kong, T., and Denker, B. M. (2007) J. Biol. Chem. 282, 24352–24363). Herein, we confirm this pathway in Gα12-silenced MDCK cells and utilize MDCK cell lines harboring either overexpressed or silenced PC1 to demonstrate that PC1 expression levels determine activity of the JNK/Bcl-2 apoptosis pathway. PC1-overexpressing MDCK cells were resistant to thrombin/Gα12-stimulated apoptosis, JNK activation, and Bcl-2 degradation. In contrast, PC1-silenced MDCK cells displayed enhanced thrombin-induced apoptosis, JNK activity, and Bcl-2 degradation. In pulldown experiments, PC1 bound to Gα12, but not the related Gα13 subunit, and thrombin-stimulated MDCK cells led to increased interaction of Gα12 with the PC1 C terminus. In transient transfection assays, a PC1 C-terminal mutant lacking the G protein-binding domain was uncoupled from PC1-inhibited apoptosis. PC1 expression levels may be increased or decreased in ADPKD, and these findings suggest a mechanism in which levels of PC1 expression modulate Gα12/JNK-stimulated apoptosis. Taken together, these findings are consistent with a set point model in which PC1 expression levels regulate specific G protein signaling pathways important to cyst development.
Alternative medicine--the risks of untested and unregulated remedies.

What is there about alternative medicine that sets it apart from ordinary medicine? The term refers to a remarkably heterogeneous group of theories and practices — as disparate as homeopathy, therapeutic touch, imagery, and herbal medicine. What unites them? Eisenberg et al. defined alternative medicine (now often called complementary medicine) as “medical interventions not taught widely at U.S. medical schools or generally available at U.S. hospitals. ”1 That is not a very satisfactory definition, especially since many alternative remedies have recently found their way into the medical mainstream. Medical schools teach alternative medicine, hospitals and health maintenance organizations offer it,2 and .
Transfusion strategies and development of acute respiratory distress syndrome in combat casualty care

BACKGROUND Damage-control resuscitation (DCR) has been advocated to reduce mortality in military and civilian settings. However, DCR and excessive crystalloid resuscitation may be associated with a higher incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We sought to examine the impact of resuscitation strategies on ARDS development in combat casualty care. METHODS A retrospective review of Joint Theater Trauma Registry data on US combat casualties who received at least 1 U of blood product within the first 24 hours of care was performed, cross-referenced with the cohort receiving mechanical ventilation (n = 1,475). Massive transfusion (MT, ≥10 red blood cells [RBCs] and/or whole blood in 24 hours) and volume/ratios of plasma/RBC, platelet/RBC, and crystalloid/RBC (C/RBC, crystalloid liters/RBC units) were examined using bivariate/multivariate logistic regression and local regression analyses as ARDS risk factors, controlling for age, injury severity, admission systolic blood pressure, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score. RESULTS ARDS was identified in 95 cases (6.4%). MT was required in 550 (37.3%) of the analysis cohort. ARDS was more common in MT (46 of 550, 8.4%) versus no-MT cohort (49 of 925, 5.3%), but mortality was not different (17.4% MT vs. 16.3% no-MT). ARDS patients received significantly increased crystalloid of blood product volumes. Increased crystalloid resuscitation (C/RBC ratio > 1.5) occurred in 479 (32.7%) of 1,464 patients. Unadjusted mortality was significantly increased in the cohort with C/RBC ratio of 1.5 or less compared with those with greater than 1.5 (19.1% vs. 6.3%, p < 0.0001), but no difference in ARDS (6.5% vs. 6.6%) was identified. Platelet/RBC ratio did not impact on ARDS. Increasing plasma (odds ratio, 1.07; p = 0.0062) and crystalloid (odds ratio, 1.04; p = 0.041) volumes were confirmed as independent ARDS risk factors. CONCLUSION In modern combat casualty care, increased plasma and crystalloid infusion were identified as independent risk factors for ARDS. These findings support a practice of decreased plasma/crystalloid transfusion in trauma resuscitation once hemorrhage control is established to achieve the mortality benefit of DCR and ARDS prevention. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Epidemiologic and prognostic study, level IV.
The use of dense stereo range data in augmented reality

This paper describes an augmented reality system that incorporates a real-time dense stereo vision system. Analysis of range and intensity data is used to perform two functions: 1) 3D detection and tracking of the user's fingertip or a pen to provide natural 3D pointing gestures, and 2) computation of the 3D position and orientation of the user's viewpoint without the need for fiducial mark calibration procedures, or manual initialization. The paper describes the stereo depth camera, the algorithms developed for pointer tracking and camera pose tracking, and demonstrates their use within an application in the field of oil and gas exploration.
Viable/Inviable Polynomial-Phase Modulations for "Stretch Processing"

For pulse compression, "stretch processing" offers a low sampling rate, computationally simple alternative to the conventional matched-filter-based approach for radar/sonar receivers to pulse-compress the linear frequency modulated (a.k.a. "chirp," "linear chirp," or "sweep signal") radar returns. A question remains in the open literature whether this "stretch processing" method could be applied to other constant-modulus polynomial-phase modulations. A concise mathematical proof is presented to show the answer as "no"; the linear frequency modulation (LFM) is the only constant-modulus polynomial-phase-based pulse compression suitable for "stretch processing".
Investigation into physical and mechanical properties and failure mode of resistance spot welded dissimilar metal joints

Resistance spot welding is a widely used technique for fabricating sheet metal assemblies because of its high speed, efficiency, reduced cost and suitability for automation. The objective of this thesis was to study the effect of process parameters particularly on the structure and properties of resistance spot welded dissimilar sheet metal joint. Process parameters were optimized and a discussion was made on failure mode of this welding technique. Two different materials, austenitic stainless steel and low carbon steel were used to be welded. Thickness of these two sheets were around 1.5 mm. Welding current in the range of 3 kA to 9 kA and welding cycle of 30 to 90 was used as process variables. The welded coupons were examined by different characterization techniques such as macroscopic, optical microscopic and scanning electron microscopy, EDX analysis, tensile testing and micro hardness measurements. Failure mode was also identified by analysis of the fractured samples. In this study, asymmetrical shape weld nugget was formed to join two different materials. Weld nugget size increased with an increase in welding current and welding cycle and this affected the mechanical properties. Optical microscopy and SEM analysis clearly showed different zones like base metal, heat affected zone and fusion zone. The heat affected zone consist martensite, grain boundary ferrite and widmanstatten ferrite in low carbon steel side but in case of austenitic stainless steel no phase change occurs in the heat affected zone. The fusion zone had a cast structure with coarse columnar grain and dendrite with excess delta ferrite in austenitic matrix. Micro hardness of the weld nugget was maximum because of the formation of martensite. An increase in both welding current and cycle, increases tensile strength of the weld coupon. Three types of failure mode were found and these are base metal tearing, pullout failure mode and interfacial failure mode.
Analysis of the Private, Collective, and Relational Self-Cognitions among Han and Tibetan Chinese

Differences in the concepts of private, collective, and relational selves between two Chinese ethnic groups, the Han and Tibetan—adhering to the philosophies of Confucianism and Tibetan Buddhism, respectively—were examined. 128 students (54 men, 74 women; M age=20.9 yr., SD = 2.2) completed the revised Twenty Statements Test and self-reference paradigm. Study 1 found that for Han participants relational and private selves were ranked similarly and as more important than the collective self. Studies 2 and 3 found that adjective words describing private and relational selves were recalled in greater proportions than words describing the collective self. Tibetan participants showed no significant differences between the three self-cognitions. The findings correspond to differences in self-identity among these two subcultures.
Recurrence of thromboembolic disease after discontinuing anticoagulant therapy A study of factors affecting incidence

On 169 occasions anticoagulant therapy for thromboembolic disease was stopped electively and patients were followed for 16 subsequent weeks. The records of those who remained well and those who suffered a relapse were compared in an attempt to identify factors that might affect liability to thromboembolic relapse. During the follow-up period there were 37 thromboembolic recurrences, an incidence of 22 per cent. None occurred among the patients in whom the original diagnosis of thromboembolic disease was discarded or when a predisposing cause had ceased to be present. There was an inverse relation between liability to relapse and degree of prothrombin time prolongation. No significant relation could be shown between liability to relapse and any of the following: sex and age; type and severity of the initiating thromboembolic episode; history of earlier thromboembolic disease or relapse after stopping earlier anticoagulant courses; presence of hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, or diabetes mellitus; type of anticoagulant drug used, duration of therapy, and method of stopping treatment. Patients with overt occlusive arterial disease at more than one site had a significantly increased liability to relapse when compared with patients with symptomatic disease at a single site. In the group of 134 subjects receiving anticoagulant therapy for coronary arterial disease, occurrence of a thromboembolic episode during the course of treatment and the presence of angina of effort in the months before it was discontinued were both associated with a significant increase in liability to relapse. It is suggested that, ideally, anticoagulant therapy should be continued indefinitely in any patient whose pattern of disease thus increases the likelihood of a thromboembolic recurrence.
Characterization of information propagation in Google + and its Comparison with Twitter

This paper characterizes the propagation of the information in one of the major OSNs, Google+ (G+). It extends previous works, which study information dissemination in other OSNs, based on two main contributions: (i) it is the first work that takes into account all publicly available information in a major OSN to perform such characterization rather than only use a limited sample of the network. (ii) To the best of our knowledge, this paper presents the most extensive head-to-head comparison of information propagation between two major OSNs such as Google+ and Twitter. We investigate the answer for two fundamental questions: First, how the information is propagated in G+ and how such propagation compares with the information dissemination in Twitter? Our results reveal that information is disseminated faster in Twitter, but it has more probabilities of being propagated and travel longer paths in G+. Second, are there influential users that play a key role in the information dissemination in G+? and, if so, who are them? Our results identify two type of influential users in G+ that we refer to as Disseminators and Leaders. The former are relatively popular users that publish a large number of posts that all together reach a large number of users. In addition, they use to publish entertainment content such as funny videos and animations, beautiful pictures and quotes with deep emotional messages. The latter are individual persons that publish few posts that engage a large number of users. Finally, it is interesting to notice that among the Top 50 Leaders we find 7 accounts associated to either Google employees or Google product.
Mechanical Properties of Concrete with partial replacement of Coarse aggregates by Coconut Shells and reinforced with Coconut Fibre

This paper centers around the study of physical and mechanical properties of concrete reinforced with coconut fibre and the coarse aggregates of which are partially replaced with coconut shells. American Concrete Institute (ACI) method has been used to design M20 concrete wherein coconut shells (CS) replaced the coarse aggregates (CA) by 6%, 8%, 10%, 12% and 14% by volume. Under each replacement of CA by CS, coconut fibres were added by 3%, 4% and 5% of cement content. Compressive strength of concrete was found to comply with characteristic strength for certain mixes which avers that the replacements were justifiable for concrete production and thus, the optimum mix for the concrete prepared thereby, would have to be considered accentuating the tensile strength which was actually the one with 10% replacement of CA by CS in terms of volume and 3% addition of coconut fibre. The research vividly evinces a decrease in overall density of the concrete thus prepared. The authors suggest the use of coconut shell and fibre in the production of concrete not only because they impart themselves as viable materials, but their use would also assist to abate the amount of environmental waste.
Rett Syndrome Exploring the Autism Link

he presence of autism in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, whether tran-sient as in Rett syndrome (RTT) or enduring as in fragile X syndrome or Down syndrome, suggests the possibility of common neurobiologic mechanisms whose eluci-dation could fundamentally advance our understanding. This review explores the commonalities and differences between autism and RTT at clinical and molecular levels with respect to current status and challenges for each, highlights recent findings from the Rare Disease Network Natural History study on RTT, and summarizes the broad range of phenotypes resulting from mutations in the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 gene ( MECP2 ), which is responsible for RTT in 95% of individuals with the disorder. For RTT, animal models have been critical resources for advancing pathobiologic discovery and promise to be important test beds for evaluating new therapies. Fundamental understanding of autism based on unique genetic mechanism(s) must await similar advances.
Terahertz quantum-cascade lasers for spectroscopic applications

Terahertz (THz) quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs) are unipolar semiconductor heterostructure lasers that emit in the far-infrared spectral range. They are very attractive radiation sources for spectroscopy, since they are very compact and exhibit typical output powers of several mW as well as linewidths in the MHz to kHz range. This thesis presents the development of methods to tailor the emission characteristics of THz QCLs and employ them for spectroscopy with highest resolution and sensitivity. In many cases, these spectroscopic applications require that the far-field distribution of the THz QCLs exhibits only a single lobe. However, multiple lobes in the far-field distribution of THz QCLs were experimentally observed, which were unambiguously attributed to the typically employed mounting geometry and to the cryogenic operation environment such as the optical window. Based on these results, a method to obtain a single-lobed far-field distribution is demonstrated. A critical requirement to employ a THz QCL for high-resolution spectroscopy of a single absorption or emission line is the precise control of its emission frequency. This long-standing problem is solved by a newly developed technique relying on the mechanical polishing of the front facet. A QCL fabricated in this manner allows for spectroscopy at a maximal resolution in the MHz to kHz range, but its accessible bandwidth is usually limited to a few GHz. In contrast, a newly developed method to utilize QCLs as sources for THz Fourier transform spectrometers enables highly sensitive spectroscopy over a significantly larger bandwidth of at least 72 GHz with a maximal resolution of typically 100 MHz. The application of QCLs as sources for THz Fourier transform spectroscopy leads to a signal-to-noise ratio and dynamic range that is substantially increased by a factor of 10 to 100 as compared to conventional sources. The results presented in this thesis pave the way to routinely employ THz QCLs for spectroscopic applications in the near future.
Genomic Basis for Methicillin Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus

Since the discovery of the first strain in 1961 in England, MRSA, the most notorious multidrug-resistant hospital pathogen, has spread all over the world. MRSA repeatedly turned down the challenges by number of chemotherapeutics, the fruits of modern organic chemistry. Now, we are in short of effective therapeutic agents against MRSA prevailing among immuno-compromised patients in the hospital. On top of this, we recently became aware of the rise of diverse clones of MRSA, some of which have increased pathogenic potential compared to the classical hospital-associated MRSA, and the others from veterinary sources. They increased rapidly in the community, and started menacing otherwise healthy individuals by causing unexpected acute infection. This review is intended to provide a whole picture of MRSA based on its genetic makeup as a versatile pathogen and our tenacious colonizer.
Epigenetics: Concepts and relevance to IBD pathogenesis

The purpose of this review is to introduce the exciting field of epigenetics and to describe how it could explain the mechanisms by which environmental changes induce pathological gene expression and determine cell phenotype and function in IBD. We outline how epigenetics research in the context of a variety of clinical conditions, but mainly in cancer, has begun to define the role of multiple combinations of modifications to chromatin, diverse families of enzymes, and non‐coding RNAs in determining transcriptional outcomes. These findings are applicable to understanding the context‐specific events that underlie the expression of genes in diseases like IBD and have the potential to reveal new targets for improved IBD therapy. The current status of epigenetics‐based therapies is also summarized. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2012)
Encrypting Messages for Incomplete Chains of Certificates

A public key infrastructure (PKI) binds public keys to the identities of their respective owners. It employs certificate authorities or a web of trust over social links to transitively build cryptographic trust across parties in the form of chains of certificates. In existing PKIs, Alice cannot send a message to Bob confidentially until a complete chain of trust from Alice to Bob exists. We observe that this temporal restriction—which may be severely limiting in some contexts like whistleblowing— can be eliminated by combining webs of trust with concepts from hierarchical identity-based encryption. Specifically, we present a novel protocol that allows Alice to securely send a message to Bob, binding to any chain of social links, with the property that Bob can decrypt the message only after trust has been established on all links in the chain. This trust may be established either before or after Alice has sent the message, and it may be established in any order on the links. We prove the protocol’s security relative to an ideal functionality, develop a prototypical implementation and evaluate the implementation’s performance for a realistic environment obtained by harvesting data from an existing web of trust. We observe that our protocol is fast enough to be used in practice.
Yokukansankachimpihange increased body weight but not food-incentive motivation in wild-type mice

ABSTRACT Yokukansankachimpihange (YKSCH), a traditional Japanese medicine, is widely used for the amelioration of the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia with digestive dysfunction. Regardless of its successful use for digestive dysfunction, the effect of YKSCH on body weight was unknown. Furthermore, if YKSCH increased body weight, it might increase motivation according to Kampo medicine theory. Therefore, we investigated whether YKSCH had the potential to increase body weight and enhance motivation in mice. To address this, C57BL/6J mice were used to evaluate the long-term effect of YKSCH on body weight and food-incentive motivation. As part of the evaluation, we optimized an operant test for use over the long-term. We found that feeding mice YKSCH-containing chow increased body weight, but did not increase their motivation to food reward. We propose that YKSCH may be a good treatment option for preventing decrease in body weight in patients with dementia.
SEARCH USING RULES , TESTS AND MEASURES ( its applications in the Harmonisation of Bach ’ s Chorales )

Problem solvings may be viewed as search. In a search, knowledge plays a crucial role in guiding the search to an acceptable solution. We believe that an explicit separation between knowledge levels and the use of knowledge in problem solving allows knowledge-rich systems to be more flexible and powerful. With this aim, appropriate representation framework and inference mechanism are required. This paper discusses the issues involved by viewing effective problem solving through the search control perspective. In this view, the data stream is defined as a stream of problem states returned after applying a control definition to a problem state ( ). The control definition is a control block constructed from three primitives, namely rules, tests and measures. A problem is said to be solved if a sequence of control definitions (control stream) applied to the start state yields the goal state e.g. ! " # # $ &% . The stream of control procedure utilises knowledge to decide how to move from the start state to the goal state. We explain the search mechanism and how the knowledge can be applied to guide search in this view. We illustrate the approach with a case study in the harmonisation of Bach’s chorales.