Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MicroRNA‐135b inhibits odontoblast‐like differentiation of human dental pulp cells by regulating Smad5 and Smad4

AIM To investigate the function of miRNAs in odontoblast-like differentiation of human dental pulp cells (hDPCs). METHODOLOGY Integrated comparative miRNA microarray profiling was used to determine the differential miRNAs expression in odontoblast-like differentiation of hDPCs. The abundance of microRNA-135b (miR-135b) was measured by quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and in situ hybridization (ISH). Bioinformatic analyses combined with luciferase assays were utilized to identify the targets interacting with miR-135b. Overexpression of miR-135b was performed to investigate the role and mechanism in odontoblast-like differentiation of hDPCs. Statistical analysis was performed by one-way analysis of variance (anova) or Student's t-test. RESULTS Thirty-six differentially expressed microRNAs in odontoblast-like differentiation of hDPCs were identified. MiR-135b expression was significantly downregulated during hDPCs differentiation (P < 0.05). In addition, miR-135b was able to bind to the 3'-UTR of the Smad5 and Smad4 and repressed these two genes expression (P < 0.05). Furthermore, overexpression of miR-135b suppressed odontoblast-like differentiation of hDPCs and attenuated the expression of Smad5 and Smad4 (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS These observations indicated a potential role of miR-135b in mediating odontoblast-like differentiation of hDPCs and inhibition of miR-135b might be a promising therapeutic way to facilitate dentine tissue engineering.
Fabrication of GaN-based Photonic Crystal Structures by Reactive Ion Etching

The fabrication of the 2D GaN-based photonic crystal structure at optical scales, a subμm scale in our case is very challenging. In our work, a double-etching method proved to be feasible to achieve the periodic GaN/air variation. The pattern was defined in a PMMA resist by electron-beam lithography and transferred to SiO2 by reactive ion etching (RIE) in a CF4 plasma and further into GaN by RIE in a chlorine plasma. An interesting phenomenon during RIE was observed: the etching rate at the barrier site is enhanced to about two times of that in the μm scale while the etching rate at the valley site stays the same. If the mask is exhausted during RIE, the etching depth increases before the mask disappearance and decreases after that with further etching. Thus the etching time is a critical parameter to obtain deep enough holes in GaN. Referring to the etching rates of Si3N4 and SiO2 in both kinds of plasma, it might be easier to achieve deep holes when Si3N4 substitutes SiO2.
Association between mortality and blood pressure variability in hypertensive and normotensive elders: A cohort study

To evaluate the association between blood pressure variability (BPV) and mortality in the elderly, all blood pressure measurements recorded in a cohort of individuals 65 years and older were collected and the association between BPV coefficient of variation (BPV divided by mean arterial pressure) was calculated. Mortality during a 10‐year period was compared between BPV coefficient of variation quartiles. Overall, 39 502 individuals 65 years and older were included in the analysis, of which 31 737 (80.3%) were hypertensive; 12 817 (32.4%) individuals died during the study period. Mortality was lower in the second and third blood pressure quartiles compared with the first quartile in both the normotensive and hypertensive groups. In both normotensive and hypertensive individuals, mortality was higher in the fourth quartile, but it was more pronounced in normotensive individuals (odds ratio, 1.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.06–1.31 in hypertensive individuals vs odds ratio, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.17–1.37 in normotensive individuals). High and low BPV are associated with mortality in both hypertensive and normotensive elders.
Predictive validity of the neurokinin-1 knockout mouse in research into Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

The neurokinin-1 receptor ‘knockout’ (NK1R-/-) mouse has been proposed as a preclinical model of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Previous work from our group demonstrated that these mice are hyperactive, and display inattentiveness and impulsivity: the core signs of ADHD. The main aim of this thesis was to examine the predictive validity of the NK1R-/- mouse, by testing the effects of the ADHD treatments, guanfacine, atomoxetine and methylphenidate on ADHD-like behaviour, primarily in the 5-Choice Serial Reaction-Time Task (5-CS RTT). Guanfacine (0.1 mg/kg) improved attention in NK1R-/- mice, but not wildtypes, and did not affect anxiety-like behaviour in either genotype in the Elevated Plus Maze. This drug also reduced impulsivity in both genotypes at a higher dose (1 mg/kg), but this was likely secondary to its locomotor suppressant effect. Further studies revealed that the low dose of guanfacine improved spatial memory in NK1R-/- mice, but not wildtypes, in an object recognition task, but this effect was not mirrored by another alpha2-adrenoceptor agonist (medetomidine, at 1 – 10 tg/kg). In contrast, atomoxetine had no effect on attention, but selectively improved hyperactivity and impulsivity in NK1R-/- mice, only, at doses of 3 and 10 mg/kg, respectively. Similarly, methylphenidate (10 mg/kg) reduced two types of impulsivity (motor impulsivity and behavioural disinhibition) in NK1R-/- mice, only, but had negligible effects on attention in either genotype, when tested in an extension of the 5-CSRTT, the 5-Choice Continuous Performance Task (5C-CPT). Based on literature suggesting ADHD and obesity can be comorbid, and the finding that NK1R-/- mice were smaller, but ate more than wildtypes during the 5-CSRTT and 5C-CPT tasks, the second aim of this thesis was to determine whether NK1R-/- mice had underlying differences in body composition. Carcass composition analyses revealed that the fat content of mice depended on an interaction between genotype and gender, but bone density was increased in NK1R-/- mice compared with wildtypes. Furthermore, a comparison between two types of carcass composition analyses revealed that dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) may over-estimate body fat by approximately 10%. Overall these studies consolidate the predictive validity of the NK1R-/- mouse model of ADHD, and highlight a role for NK1Rs in growth and body composition.
Influence of R-learning based education on kindergarten and kindergarten teacher

This study examines the influence of R-Learning based education on a kindergarten classroom and kindergarten teacher. It was conducted from December 1st, 2010 to April 30rd, 2011 by adopting survey and qualitative method. The researcher distributed two hundreds seventy one electronic questionnaires from samples of three hundreds ten kindergarten selected by R-Learning Development, Promotion, & Support to the kindergartens and kindergarten teachers who agreed to the participation for this study. Collected data were analyzed by a One-Way Analysis and t-Test to examine the influence and difference of R-Learning education on a kindergarten and kindergarten teacher. Brief results for this study are as follows. First, R-Learning based education positively influenced on kindergarten specifically in the area of educational environment and curriculum. Negative influence was observed in the area of administration and management. Second, R-Learning based education positively influenced on kindergarten teachers specifically in the area of teacher's professional development, teaching and learning support, and administration and management. Negative influence was observed in the area of evaluation and administrative support and educational planning support. For further application and diffusion of the robot learning, effective and practical contents which reflect teacher's demands and child's developmental characteristics should be developed. What is more necessary is to provide more child-directed contents and train teachers for their understanding and application on how to and what to use in robot learning education in kindergarten classrooms.
Temporal logic model predictive control for discrete-time systems

This paper proposes an optimal control strategy for a discrete-time linear system constrained to satisfy a temporal logic specification over a set of linear predicates in its state variables. The cost is a quadratic function that penalizes the distance from desired state and control trajectories. The specification is a formula of syntactically co-safe Linear Temporal Logic (scLTL), which can be satisfied in finite time. It is assumed that the reference trajectories are only available over a finite horizon and a model predictive control (MPC) approach is employed. The MPC controller solves a set of convex optimization problems guided by the specification and subject to progress constraints. The constraints ensure that progress is made towards the satisfaction of the formula with guaranteed satisfaction by the closed-loop trajectory. The algorithms proposed in this paper were implemented as a software package that is available for download. Illustrative case studies are included.
Inflammation-Related Pancreatic Carcinogenesis: Mechanisms and Clinical Potentials in Advances

Abstract Chronic inflammation has long been considered critical in pancreatic carcinogenesis, and recently studies showed that some anti-inflammatory agents such as aspirin could potentially be used to attenuate pancreatic carcinogenesis. Several inflammation-related critical transcription factors and pathways such as NF-&kgr;B (nuclear factor &kgr;-light-chain enhancer of activated B cells) and reactive oxygen species have been confirmed to be involved in carcinogenesis. However, its underlying mechanisms are far from clear, which largely limits further development of potential anticarcinogenesis drugs. As a result, it is of great importance for us to better understand and gain a better perspective in inflammation-related pancreatic carcinogenesis. In this review, we systematically analyzed recent advances concerning inflammation-related pancreatic carcinogenesis and brought out the possible underlying mechanisms. Potential preventive and therapeutic strategies based on anti-inflammatory agents have also been further discussed.
RNA interference‐mediated knockdown of α‐synuclein protects human dopaminergic neuroblastoma cells from MPP+ toxicity and reduces dopamine transport

The critical observation in the pathology of Parkinson's disease (PD) is that neurodegeneration is largely restricted to dopaminergic neurons that develop cytoplasmic inclusions called Lewy bodies. These aggregations contain the protein α‐synuclein. Furthermore, it is becoming apparent that α‐synuclein expression levels are a major factor in PD pathogenesis. Patients with additional copies of the α‐synuclein gene develop PD with a severity proportional to levels of α‐synuclein overexpression. Similarly, overexpression of α‐synuclein in in vitro and in vivo models has been shown to be toxic. However, little is known about the effects of reducing α‐synuclein expression in human neurons. To investigate this, we have developed a system in which levels of α‐synuclein can be acutely suppressed by using RNA interference (RNAi) in a physiologically relevant human dopaminergic cellular model. By using small interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules targeted to endogenous α‐synuclein, we achieved 80% protein knockdown. We show that α‐synuclein knockdown has no effect on cellular survival either under normal growth conditions over 5 days or in the presence of the mitochondrial inhibitor rotenone. Knockdown does, however, confer resistance to the dopamine transporter (DAT)‐dependent neurotoxin N‐methyl‐4‐phenylpyridinium (MPP+). We then demonstrate for the first time that α‐synuclein suppression decreases dopamine transport in human cells, reducing the maximal uptake velocity (Vmax) of dopamine and the surface density of its transporter by up to 50%. These results show that RNAi‐mediated α‐synuclein knockdown alters cellular dopamine homeostasis in human cells and may suggest a mechanism for the increased survival in the presence of MPP+, a toxin used extensively to model Parkinson's disease. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Total-Single-Pushout Derivations for Internal Graph Attribution

We present a simple,abstract approach that allows to integrate graph attribution into the graph structure itself. We use a declarative setting where the calculation of the attributions relies on single-pushout derivations in a category of total homomorphisms. We discuss applications to term graph typing, including multi-level typing and type classes, and visualisation of compilation.
Spacing Control and Sliver-free Delaunay Mesh

|We are often required to generate a Delaunay mesh whose element size is within a constant factor of a control spacing function, i.e., well-conformed, in addition to the fact that each mesh element has small aspect ratio, i.e., well-shaped. However, generating wellshaped Delaunay meshes is an open problem for a long time. Observe that slivers have small radius-edge ratio thus the Delaunay triangulation of well-spaced point set can not guarantee a sliver-free mesh. In this paper, we present a re nement-based method that, given a PLC domain with no acute input angles, guarantees to generate a well-shaped and well-conformed Delaunay mesh. Speci cally, for any tetrahedron generated by this algorithm, its radius-edge ratio is at most a small constant %0 > 2, which can be given as an input parameter. Moreover, we show that there is a constant 0 > 0 depending on %0 such that V=L 3 0, where V is the volume of and L is the shortest edge length of . Thus, the algorithm generates a well-shaped Delaunay mesh: the aspect ratio of each tetrahedron is at most a constant depending on %0. The size of each tetrahedron element is also within a small constant factor of the given control spacing.
True randomness from realistic quantum devices

Even if the output of a Random Number Generator (RNG) is perfectly uniformly distributed, it may be correlated to pre-existing information and therefore be predictable. Statistical tests are thus not sufficient to guarantee that an RNG is usable for applications, e.g., in cryptography or gambling, where unpredictability is important. To enable such applications a stronger notion of randomness, termed "true randomness", is required, which includes independence from prior information. Quantum systems are particularly suitable for true randomness generation, as their unpredictability can be proved based on physical principles. Practical implementations of Quantum RNGs (QRNGs) are however always subject to noise, i.e., influences which are not fully controlled. This reduces the quality of the raw randomness generated by the device, making it necessary to post-process it. Here we provide a framework to analyse realistic QRNGs and to determine the post-processing that is necessary to turn their raw output into true randomness.
A new efficient blended e-learning model and framework for K12 and higher education: Design and implementation success factors

The vast and rapid development in the computer, communication and Internet technologies has significantly affected contemporary educational systems. The wide utilization of technology, the abundance of information and knowledge, and the use of multimedia applications, create real challenges to present an efficient and attractive E-learning model that encompasses all these elements. Another dimension of these challenges is realizing the fact that a successful e-learning system must orchestrate different technological, pedagogical, cultural and social components. Examples of these components are an efficient infrastructure, smart classroom technologies, providing and efficient Learning Management System (LMS), designing and developing on-line digital content, training and society awareness. In addition, Any e-learning adoption must match learners' expectations in order to keep them motivated and attracted to the system. learners and instructors also must have efficient tools for knowledge presentations, searching for information, retaining information. This paper presents a new blended e-learning model and framework for an efficient implementation in K12 and higher education. The proposed model and framework successfully incorporates all the above elements.
An approach for knowledge-based IT management of air traffic control systems

In this paper, an approach for runtime analysis and automated knowledge-based IT management is presented and applied to the example of an Air Traffic Control (ATC) system. An analysis method has been developed, which combines the strengths of formal ontologies and Complex Event Processing (CEP). Thereby, the configuration of the whole analysis process is derived from one homogeneous knowledge source, a formal ontology model, which contains the system topology, the events that occur in the system, aggregations and Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Ontology rules are evaluated using semantic reasoning, event aggregations are translated into rules for the CEP engine. During runtime, data from the Managed System is classified to be either low-frequent or high-frequent and is accordingly either mapped to the ontology or used as input for the CEP engine. The aggregated information from both processes is used as input for the planning of reconfigurations on the Managed System.
Ray Tracing of CMP Antenna Array GPR System

There is much interest in vehicle mounted array GPR systems for landmine detec- tion and work is being carried out on various national, because high speed array GPR systems can sweep a large area in a relatively short time to improve performance and e-ciency. We devel- oped the vehicle mounted stepped-frequency (SF) CMP antenna array GPR system. The system has three pairs of Vivaldi antennas that conflgure a symmetrical CMP antenna array. Based on this conflguration, multi-ofiset CMP data gather can be acquired at every measurement posi- tion. Migration is an important signal processing method that can improve signal-clutter ratio and reconstruct subsurface image. Difiraction stacking migration and Kirchhofi migration sum amplitudes along the migration trajectory that generally is hyperbolic. But when the ground surface varies acutely, we have to modify the migration trajectory by the technique of ray tracing. We compute the travel time between transmitter, receiver and each subsurface scattering point, and search the propagation ray depending on the Fermat's principle. The method is tested by an experiment data acquired by the SF CMP antenna array GPR system. The target is a metal ball that is buried under a sand mound. A nice result of ray tracing is shown in the case.
Energy Efficient Data Dissemination for Uniform Coverage in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) are commonly used for continuous monitoring applications. However, due to remote and inaccessible WSN deployments, the batteries cannot be easily replaced. As a result, the quality of sensor monitoring changes with respect to time. We investigate the rate of change in coverage as sensor nodes are depleted of their energy resources. In this paper, we propose a coverage analysis method which not only focuses on the coverage itself but also on its uniformity and efficiency. The paper documents interesting network coverage evaluation studies showing several ways of getting valuable information about a WSN's coverage's uniformity and efficiency by appropriately interpreting the change in its efficient and redundant coverage ratios (efficient and redundant coverage ratios are terms defined in this paper). We also specify the particular WSN applications where the proposed coverage analysis method will be more suitable.
Multivariate Fuzzy Hidden Markov Chains Model Applied to Unsupervised Multiscale SAR Image Segmentation

This paper deals with unsupervised segmentation of multicomponent images. In order to address the classification issue, we propose to use a new rectorial fuzzy version of hidden Markov chains (HMC). The main characteristic of the proposed model is to simultaneously use Dirac and Lebesgue measures at the class chain level. It then allows the coexistence of crisp pixels (obtained with the uncertainty measure of the model) and fuzzy pixels (obtained with the fuzzy measure of the model) in the same image. Crisp and fuzzy multidimensional densities can then be estimated in the segmentation process, according to the assumption considered to model the statistical links between the layers of the multiband image. The efficiency of the proposed method is illustrated with a multiscale decomposition of a synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image and comparisons with one-dimensional fuzzy HMC are also provided. The segmentation results show the interest of the new method
In Vitro Antifungal Activity of Equol against Candida albicans

In this study, we demonstrate that equol has fungicidal activities against Candida albicans. The minimum inhibitory and minimum fungicidal concentrations of equol against C. albicans were 516 and 1,032 μM, respectively. Two separate viability assays found that equol changed the integrity of the C. albicans cell membrane, possibly by formation of membrane lesions. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated ultrastructural changes.
Meta-analysis of two-arm studies: Modeling the intervention effect from survival probabilities

Pooling the hazard ratios is not always feasible in meta-analyses of two-arm survival studies, because the measure of the intervention effect is not systematically reported. An alternative approach proposed by Moodie et al. is to use the survival probabilities of the included studies, all collected at a single point in time: the intervention effect is then summarised as the pooled ratio of the logarithm of survival probabilities (which is an estimator of the hazard ratios when hazards are proportional). In this article, we propose a generalization of this method. By using survival probabilities at several points in time, this generalization allows a flexible modeling of the intervention over time. The method is applicable to partially proportional hazards models, with the advantage of not requiring the specification of the baseline survival. As in Moodie et al.’s method, the study-level factors modifying the survival functions can be ignored as long as they do not modify the intervention effect. The procedures of estimation are presented for fixed and random effects models. Two illustrative examples are presented.
Adolescents with gender identity disorder who were accepted or rejected for sex reassignment surgery: a prospective follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE To conduct a prospective follow-up study with 20 treated adolescent transsexuals to evaluate early sex reassignment, and with 21 nontreated and 6 delayed-treatment adolescents to evaluate the decisions not to allow them to start sex reassignment at all or at an early age. METHOD Subjects were tested on their psychological, social, and sexual functioning. Follow-up interviews were conducted from March 1995 until July 1999. Treated patients had undergone surgery 1 to 4 years before follow-up; nontreated patients were tested 1 to 7 years after application. Within the treated and the nontreated group, pre- and posttreatment data were compared. Results between the groups were also compared. RESULTS Postoperatively the treated group was no longer gender-dysphoric and was psychologically and socially functioning quite well. Nobody expressed regrets concerning the decision to undergo sex reassignment. Without sex reassignment, the nontreated group showed some improvement, but they also showed a more dysfunctional psychological profile. CONCLUSIONS Careful diagnosis and strict criteria are necessary and sufficient to justify hormone treatment in adolescent transsexuals. Even though some of the nontreated patients may actually have gender identity disorder, the high levels of psychopathology found in this group justify the decision to not start hormone treatment too soon or too easily.