Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Nogo/Nogo Receptor (NgR) Signal Is Involved in Neuroinflammation through the Regulation of Microglial Inflammatory Activation*

Background: NgR is expressed on microglia and regulates cell adhesion and migration behavior. Results: Nogo/NgR signal induced the expression of proinflammatory factors in microglia through NF-κB and STAT3 signal pathways. Conclusion: Nogo peptide could directly take part in CNS inflammatory process by influencing the expression of proinflammatory factors in microglia. Significance: Nogo/NgR signal might be involved in multiple processes in various inflammation-associated CNS diseases. Microglia have been proposed to play a pivotal role in the inflammation response of the CNS by expressing a range of proinflammatory enzymes and cytokines under pathological stimulus. Our previous study has confirmed that Nogo receptor (NgR), an axon outgrowth inhibition receptor, is also expressed on microglia and regulates cell adhesion and migration behavior in vitro. In the present study, we further investigated the proinflammatory effects and possible mechanisms of Nogo on microglia in vitro. In this study, Nogo peptide, Nogo-P4, a 25-amino acid core inhibitory peptide sequence of Nogo-66, was used. We found that Nogo-P4 was able to induce the expression of inducible nitric-oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 and the release of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, TNF-α, NO, and prostaglandin E2 in microglia, which could be reversed by NEP1–40 (Nogo-66(1–40) antagonist peptide), phosphatidylinositol-specificphospholipase C, or NgR siRNA treatment. After Nogo-P4 stimulated microglia, the phosphorylation levels of NF-κB and STAT3 were increased obviously, which further mediated microglia expressing proinflammatory factors induced by Nogo-P4. Taken together, we concluded that Nogo peptide could directly take part in CNS inflammatory process by influencing the expression of proinflammatory factors in microglia, which were related to the NF-κB and STAT3 signal pathways. Besides neurite outgrowth restriction, the Nogo/NgR signal might be involved in multiple processes in various inflammation-associated CNS diseases.
Spoken content retrieval: Searching spontaneous conversational speech

The second workshop on Searching Spontaneous Conversational Speech (SSCS 2008) was held in Singapore on July 24, 2008 in conjunction with the 31st Annual International ACM SIGIR Conference. The goal of the workshop was to bring the speech community and the information retrieval community together. The forum was designed to be conducive to the close interaction and the intense discussion necessary to promote fusion of these fields into a single discipline with a concerted vision of spoken content retrieval. At the workshop, talks and posters were presented covering a wide range of topics including vocabulary independent search, spoken term detection, combination of models/indexes, use of speech recognition lattices for search, segmentation, temporal analysis, benchmarking, exploitation of prosody, speech surrogates for user interfaces and multi-language collections. Demonstrations of speech-based retrieval systems from a variety of application domains introduced a strong practical emphasis into the workshop program. The workshop concluded with a panel discussion, whose goal it was to identify future research directions for speech retrieval. Among the important challenges identified during the panel discussions were: dealing with large scale multimedia collections, representing audio/video content effectively in the user interface, focusing on perfecting the component technologies on which speech retrieval systems are based, and developing systems and approaches that will enable users (both content seekers and content providers) to actively create their own speech search applications or contribute to the indexability of their content.
Axiomatizing Relational Network for Knowledge Engineering - Exploring WordNet and FrameNet

The focus of this paper is showing how linguistic information can be modeled in an ontological engineering environment for knowledge management and acquisition, and on this basis made accessible for hierarchical and axiomatic processing. The simplicity of relational network notation models stratal linguistic information solely with reference to sets of interconnecting nodes. Axioms can be effortlessly declared upon the simplicity of the notation such that the knowledge base can be easily extended with the power of inference. Fruitful new knowledge can thus be acquired through axiomatic inference in terms of uncovering latent links between concepts and/or instances in the knowledge base. With this model, various linguistic resources, WordNet and FrameNet originally encoding different domains of linguistic knowledge, are now capable of interfacing with each other, retrieving and generating underlying linguistic information, serving as a more comprehensive NLP tool
Adaptive Bandwidth Allocation Via Dynamic Programming in a Shared Wireless Network

Among all related issues in shared wireless networks, the bandwidth allocation mechanism should be one of the most important ones that affect system efficiency, QoS, and the revenue of network operators. In this paper we present a model for the bandwidth resource sharing in a wireless access network among multiple mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs). Within this model, we propose an efficient scheme to adaptively allocate the bandwidth in accordance with the traffic fluctuation. Our proposed bandwidth allocation scheme adopts the technique of dynamic programming to maximize the expected total revenue across multiple stages from the perspective of the facility provider. Meanwhile, we also allow various MVNOs to compete for bandwidth resources by setting the prices. The design is then evaluated by simulation results and proved to be efficient and beneficial.
The BIRC6 gene as a novel target for therapy of prostate cancer: dual targeting of inhibitors of apoptosis

Treatment resistance, the major challenge in the management of advanced prostate cancer, is in part based on resistance to apoptosis. The Inhibitor of Apoptosis (IAP) protein family is thought to play key roles in survival and drug resistance of cancer via inhibition of apoptosis. Of the IAP family members, cIAP1, cIAP2, XIAP and survivin are known to be up-regulated in prostate cancer. BIRC6, a much less studied IAP member, was recently shown to be elevated in castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). In the present study, we showed a correlation between elevated BIRC6 expression in clinical prostate cancer specimens and poor patient prognostic factors, as well as co-upregulation of certain IAP members. In view of this, we designed antisense oligonucleotides that simultaneously target BIRC6 and another co-upregulated IAP member (dASOs). Two dASOs, targeting BIRC6+cIAP1 and BIRC6+survivin, showed substantial inhibition of CRPC cell proliferation, exceeding that obtained with single BIRC6 targeting. The growth inhibition was associated with increased apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and suppression of NFkB activation. Moreover, treatment with either dASO led to significantly lower viable tumor volume in vivo, without major host toxicity. This study shows that BIRC6-based dual IAP-targeting ASOs represent potential novel therapeutic agents against advanced prostate cancer.
Response to Adefovir Depends on Mutation Patterns in Precore Region, Basal Core Promoter and Reverse Transcriptase, and On-Treatment Responses in Lamivudine-Resistant Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

Objective: In vitro studies showed that mutations in the basal core promoter (BCP) or precore (PC) region restore the replication inefficiency of the lamivudine-resistant mutant. The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of molecular characteristics on the antiviral response to adefovir in patients with lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Methods: Sixty-six lamivudine-resistant patients who were treated with adefovir monotherapy were studied. Sequences of BCP, PC region and reverse transcriptase were determined before adefovir therapy. In patients with virologic breakthrough, reverse transcriptase sequencing was performed. Results: The cumulative probabilities of virologic response were 23.3, 46, 52.7 and 59.5% at years 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. PC mutation, the absence of compensatory mutations (rtL80I/V or rtV173L), and a decrease in serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA by 3 log or greater at 6 months were independent predictors of virologic response. The cumulative probabilities of virologic breakthrough were 0, 12.9, 30.7 and 44.5% at years 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. BCP mutation and a less than 3 log decrease in serum HBV DNA at 6 months were 2 independent risk factors for virologic breakthrough. Conclusion: Response to adefovir depends on mutation patterns in the BCP, PC region and reverse transcriptase, and on-treatment decreases in serum HBV DNA in lamivudine-resistant CHB patients.
Cloud-Based Analysis and Control for Robots in Industrial Automation

We present an architecture for cloud-based analysis of manufacturing environments and derived robot actions. We report on our implemented facility that combines visual cloud-based analysis of a robot environment and derived actions of robots plus appropriate means for human interaction with these cloud based services via hand gestures to interact with analysis results and robots. The facility will enable study of the software engineering of most-feasible combinations of human interaction interfaces with remote equipment.
Monolithic materials: Promises, challenges, achievements.

Nowadays, there is a lot of buzz in separations science about the porous materials known as monoliths. Monoliths are used mostly as separation media and supports, and each one can be roughly compared to a single porous ''particle''. Monoliths are an alternative to columns packed with particulate stationary phases, which chromatographers have used for >100 years. Although that technology is well developed, it is not flawless. Packed columns have rather large void volumes; this is an inevitable result of the particulate character of the packing. Even in a perfectly organized array of monodisperse spheres, {approx}30% of the volume is interstitial voids. In reality, the percentage is even larger. As a consequence, a significant part of the column volume is not used for separation. However, this is not the only problem. Consider what happens when a mobile phase is pumped through a column packed with a standard porous packing. The liquid flows readily through the interstitial voids between the particles, where resistance to its flow is the smallest (Figure 1a). In contrast, the liquid in the pores remains stagnant. If a sample is injected into the stream of the mobile phase, the compounds in the sample will also be carried throughmore » the voids. However, diffusion occurs because of the concentration gradient between the compounds in solution flowing through the interstices and the stagnant liquid within the pores of the packing, and transport of these compounds into the pores results. Once the concentration ''pulse'' has passed by the bead, the compounds diffuse back from the pores into the surrounding liquid; eventually, only the original stagnant phase remains within the pores. « less
Epidemiology and risk factors for invasive fungal diseases in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Purpose of reviewKnowledge of the epidemiology and the risk factors of invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients is a critical determinant of the prevention, diagnosis and therapeutic antifungal strategy. Transplant procedures are characterized by a continuous evolution; therefore, an update of the epidemiological findings of IFDs in HSCT populations is needed. Recent findingsIn the last few years, the incidence and the clinical risk factors of IFD, mainly in allogeneic HSCT populations, have been investigated in prospective, multicenter studies. New findings in the different types and phases of transplant may be considered for a redefinition of the level of risk of IFD after HSCT. Furthermore, recent studies have uncovered associations between host's and/or donor's genetic variants and immunological risk for IFDs, in particular invasive aspergillosis. SummaryEvolution of the transplant procedures was followed by an important change in the epidemiology and clinical risk of IFD after allogeneic HSCT. A new stratification of subpopulations according to different clinical infectious risk and genetic susceptibility may be considered to predict those patients most vulnerable to IFD and update tailored antifungal strategies.
Creating a communication system from scratch: gesture beats vocalization hands down

How does modality affect people's ability to create a communication system from scratch? The present study experimentally tests this question by having pairs of participants communicate a range of pre-specified items (emotions, actions, objects) over a series of trials to a partner using either non-linguistic vocalization, gesture or a combination of the two. Gesture-alone outperformed vocalization-alone, both in terms of successful communication and in terms of the creation of an inventory of sign-meaning mappings shared within a dyad (i.e., sign alignment). Combining vocalization with gesture did not improve performance beyond gesture-alone. In fact, for action items, gesture-alone was a more successful means of communication than the combined modalities. When people do not share a system for communication they can quickly create one, and gesture is the best means of doing so.
Identification and Roles of Photosystem II Assembly, Stability, and Repair Factors in Arabidopsis

Photosystem II (PSII) is a multi-component pigment-protein complex that is responsible for water splitting, oxygen evolution, and plastoquinone reduction. Components of PSII can be classified into core proteins, low-molecular-mass proteins, extrinsic oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) proteins, and light-harvesting complex II proteins. In addition to these PSII subunits, more than 60 auxiliary proteins, enzymes, or components of thylakoid protein trafficking/targeting systems have been discovered to be directly or indirectly involved in de novo assembly and/or the repair and reassembly cycle of PSII. For example, components of thylakoid-protein-targeting complexes and the chloroplast-vesicle-transport system were found to deliver PSII subunits to thylakoid membranes. Various auxiliary proteins, such as PsbP-like (Psb stands for PSII) and light-harvesting complex-like proteins, atypical short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase family proteins, and tetratricopeptide repeat proteins, were discovered to assist the de novo assembly and stability of PSII and the repair and reassembly cycle of PSII. Furthermore, a series of enzymes were discovered to catalyze important enzymatic steps, such as C-terminal processing of the D1 protein, thiol/disulfide-modulation, peptidylprolyl isomerization, phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of PSII core and antenna proteins, and degradation of photodamaged PSII proteins. This review focuses on the current knowledge of the identities and molecular functions of different types of proteins that influence the assembly, stability, and repair of PSII in the higher plant Arabidopsis thaliana.
Sensory Substitution and Augmentation Using 3-Degree-of-Freedom Skin Deformation Feedback

During tool-mediated interaction with everyday objects, we experience kinesthetic forces and tactile sensations in the form of vibration and skin deformation at the fingerpad. Fingerpad skin deformation is caused by forces applied tangentially and normally to the fingerpad skin, resulting in tangential and normal skin displacement. We designed a device to convey 3-degree-of-freedom (DoF) force information to the user via skin deformation, and conducted two experiments to determine the devices effectiveness for force-feedback substitution and augmentation. For sensory substitution, participants used 1-DoF and 3-DoF skin deformation feedback to locate a feature in a 3-DoF virtual environment. Participants showed improved precision and shorter completion time when using 3-DoF compared to 1-DoF skin deformation feedback. For sensory augmentation, participants traced a path in space from an initial to a target location, while under guidance from force and/or skin deformation feedback. When force feedback was augmented with skin deformation, participants reduced their path-following error over the cases when force or skin deformation feedback are used separately. We conclude that 3-DoF skin deformation feedback is effective in substituting or augmenting force feedback. Such substitution or augmentation could be used when force feedback is unattainable or attenuated due to device limitations or system instability.
A Varying‐Coefficient Cox Model for the Effect of Age at a Marker Event on Age at Menopause

Summary It is of recent interest in reproductive health research to investigate the validity of a marker event for the onset of menopausal transition and to estimate age at menopause using age at the marker event. We propose a varying‐coefficient Cox model to investigate the association between age at a marker event, defined as a specific bleeding pattern change, and age at menopause, where both events are subject to censoring and their association varies with age at the marker event. Estimation proceeds using the regression spline method. The proposed method is applied to the Tremin Trust data to evaluate the association between age at onset of the 60‐day menstrual cycle and age at menopause. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated using a simulation study.
Multicentric study on malignant pleural mesothelioma and non-occupational exposure to asbestos

Insufficient evidence exists on the risk of pleural mesothelioma from non-occupational exposure to asbestos. A population-based case–control study was carried out in six areas from Italy, Spain and Switzerland. Information was collected for 215 new histologically confirmed cases and 448 controls. A panel of industrial hygienists assessed asbestos exposure separately for occupational, domestic and environmental sources. Classification of domestic and environmental exposure was based on a complete residential history, presence and use of asbestos at home, asbestos industrial activities in the surrounding area, and their distance from the dwelling. In 53 cases and 232 controls without evidence of occupational exposure to asbestos, moderate or high probability of domestic exposure was associated with an increased risk adjusted by age and sex: odds ratio (OR) 4.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8–13.1. This corresponds to three situations: cleaning asbestos-contaminated clothes, handling asbestos material and presence of asbestos material susceptible to damage. The estimated OR for high probability of environmental exposure (living within 2000 m of asbestos mines, asbestos cement plants, asbestos textiles, shipyards, or brakes factories) was 11.5 (95% CI 3.5–38.2). Living between 2000 and 5000 m from asbestos industries or within 500 m of industries using asbestos could also be associated with an increased risk. A dose–response pattern appeared with intensity of both sources of exposure. It is suggested that low-dose exposure to asbestos at home or in the general environment carries a measurable risk of malignant pleural mesothelioma. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign
Plant elicitor peptides are conserved signals regulating direct and indirect antiherbivore defense

Insect-induced defenses occur in nearly all plants and are regulated by conserved signaling pathways. As the first described plant peptide signal, systemin regulates antiherbivore defenses in the Solanaceae, but in other plant families, peptides with analogous activity have remained elusive. In the current study, we demonstrate that a member of the maize (Zea mays) plant elicitor peptide (Pep) family, ZmPep3, regulates responses against herbivores. Consistent with being a signal, expression of the ZmPROPEP3 precursor gene is rapidly induced by Spodoptera exigua oral secretions. At concentrations starting at 5 pmol per leaf, ZmPep3 stimulates production of jasmonic acid, ethylene, and increased expression of genes encoding proteins associated with herbivory defense. These include proteinase inhibitors and biosynthetic enzymes for production of volatile terpenes and benzoxazinoids. In accordance with gene expression data, plants treated with ZmPep3 emit volatiles similar to those from plants subjected to herbivory. ZmPep3-treated plants also exhibit induced accumulation of the benzoxazinoid phytoalexin 2-hydroxy-4,7-dimethoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one glucoside. Direct and indirect defenses induced by ZmPep3 contribute to resistance against S. exigua through significant reduction of larval growth and attraction of Cotesia marginiventris parasitoids. ZmPep3 activity is specific to Poaceous species; however, peptides derived from PROPEP orthologs identified in Solanaceous and Fabaceous plants also induce herbivory-associated volatiles in their respective species. These studies demonstrate that Peps are conserved signals across diverse plant families regulating antiherbivore defenses and are likely to be the missing functional homologs of systemin outside of the Solanaceae.
Susceptible and resistant subgroups in genetically identical populations: response of mouse liver neoplasia and body weight to phenobarbital.

Following 17-19 months of feeding 500 p.p.m. sodium phenobarbital (PB) in the diet to yellow Avy/A and agouti A/a (C3H X VY) F1 hybrid male mice, two subgroups differing in responsiveness to PB with respect to promotion of hepatocellular adenomas and body weight gain were observed within each genotype. In untreated mice of both genotypes, the presence of an adenoma at necropsy was associated with decreased body weight gain during this study. However, PB treatment inverted this association. In treated mice the presence of an adenoma at necropsy was preceded by a greater increase in body weight during the study than when no tumor was present. This increase in average body weight gain was more pronounced among the yellow mice (44%) than among the agouti mice (21%). Among yellow mice PB treatment had no effect on body weight gain unless an adenoma was present at necropsy. However, in those yellow mice in which an adenoma was found, body weight was greater than in untreated yellow controls throughout the study beginning at week 27. The mean body weight curve of treated yellow mice bearing one adenoma was slightly higher than that of treated yellow mice in which no adenoma was found. The mean body weight curve of treated yellow mice bearing multiple adenomas was significantly higher than those of yellow mice with no or only one adenoma.
Effective capacities of dual-hop networks with relay selection

This work studies the effective capacities of dualhop networks with relay selection. The source uses buffer to store the arrival packets. For non-buffer relays, they forward the packets received from the source to the destination in the next time slot in the same transmission frame. For buffer-aided relays, they can store the received packets and forward them in future transmission frame(s). Two different buffer-aided relays can be selected for packet reception and packet forwarding in a frame to exploit the relay selection diversity in both relay and access links. As a result, higher throughput can be achieved as compared to the case of non-buffer relays at the expense of increased buffering delay. To provision delay QoS guarantees, the source and buffer-aided relays operate under statistical delay guarantees in terms of maximum delay violation probabilities. The effective capacities (i.e., maximum constant arrival rates to the source) are characterized as function of the signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of the source and relays, delay parameters, and fading distributions.