Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Changes in Vascular Permeability and Expression of Different Angiogenic Factors Following Anti-Angiogenic Treatment in Rat Glioma

Background Anti-angiogenic treatments of malignant tumors targeting vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR) tyrosine kinase are being used in different early stages of clinical trials. Very recently, VEGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (Vetanalib, PTK787) was used in glioma patient in conjunction with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, changes in the tumor size, tumor vascular permeability, vascular density, expression of VEGFR2 and other angiogenic factors in response to PTK787 are not well documented. This study was to determine the changes in tumor size, vascular permeability, fractional plasma volume and expression of VEGFR2 in PTK787 treated U-251 glioma rat model by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). The findings were validated with histochemical and western blot studies. Methodologies and Principal Findings Seven days after implantation of U251 glioma cells, animals were treated with either PTK787 or vehicle-only for two weeks, and then tumor size, tumor vascular permeability transfer constant (Ktrans), fractional plasma volume (fPV) and expression of VEGFR2 and other relevant angiogenic factors were assessed by in vivo MRI and SPECT (Tc-99-HYNIC-VEGF), and by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) using a high molecular weight contrast agent albumin-(GdDTPA) showed significantly increased Ktrans at the rim of the treated tumors compared to that of the central part of the treated as well as the untreated (vehicle treated) tumors. Size of the tumors was also increased in the treated group. Expression of VEGFR2 detected by Tc-99m-HYNIC-VEGF SPECT also showed significantly increased activity in the treated tumors. In PTK787-treated tumors, histological staining revealed increase in microvessel density in the close proximity to the tumor border. Western blot analysis indicated increased expression of VEGF, SDF-1, HIF-1α, VEGFR2, VEGFR3 and EGFR at the peripheral part of the treated tumors compared to that of central part of the treated tumors. Similar expression patters were not observed in vehicle treated tumors. Conclusion These findings indicate that PTK787 treatment induced over expression of VEGF as well as the Flk-1/VEGFR2 receptor tyrosine kinase, especially at the rim of the tumor, as proven by DCE-MRI, SPECT imaging, immunohistochemistry and western blot.
Comparison of control techniques for the formation of group of quad-rotors

The paper proposes a study and comparison of different approaches used for the formation control of group of quad-rotors. A comparison between leader-follower method and potential field method are discussed. Leader follower method of formation control is carried out using quad-rotor's linear model, while the potential field method is carried out using nonlinear model of quad-rotors. In leader follower approach, trajectory of leader is tracked by the followers using PID controllers. In potential field method, a special type of control technique called nested saturation control is used for the formation control of quad-rotors. Collision avoidance between quad-rotors and obstacle avoidance with the particles in the environment are discussed in second method. The simulation results shows the effectiveness of the proposed approaches.
Facing the Challenge of Democracy: Explorations in the Analysis of Public Opinion and Political Participation

Preface ix Acknowledgments xi List of Contributors xiii Introduction: Facing the Challenge of Democracy by Paul M. Sniderman and Benjamin Highton 1 Part I: The Political Logic of Preference Consistency Chapter I. How Do Political Scientists Know What Citizens Want? An Essay on Theory and Measurement by Arthur Lupia 23 Chapter II. Purposive Mass Belief Systems concerning Foreign Policy Benjamin I. Page and Tao Xie 47 Chapter III. Cosmopolitanism by Simon Jackman and Lynn Vavreck 70 Chapter IV. Running to the Right: Effects of Campaign Strategy on Mass Opinion and Behavior by Diana Mutz and Susanna Dilliplane 97 Chapter V. Pathways to Conservative Identification: The Politics of Ideological Contradiction in the United States by Christopher Ellis and James A. Stimson 120 Part II: Polarization and the Party System Chapter VI. Partisan Differences in Job Approval Ratings of George W. Bush and U.S. Senators in the States: An Exploration by Gary C. Jacobson 153 Chapter VII. Political Participation, Polarization, and Public Opinion: Activism and the Merging of Partisan and Ideological Polarization by John H. Aldrich and Melanie Freeze 185 Chapter VIII. Political Parties in the Capital Economy of Modern Campaigns by Jonathan Krasno 207 Chapter IX. Candidates and Parties in Congressional Elections: Revisiting Candidate-Centered Conclusions in a Partisan Era by Eric McGhee and Kathryn Pearson 224 Chapter X. The Myth of the Independent Voter Revisited by David B. Magleby, Candice J. Nelson, and Mark C. Westlye 238 Part III: Participation and Representation Chapter XI. Who Really Votes? By Stephen Ansolabehere and Eitan Hersh 267 Chapter XII. Who Governs if Everyone Votes? By John Sides, Eric Schickler, and Jack Citrin 292 Chapter XIII. T he Effects of Registration Laws on Voter Turnout: An Updated Assessment by Matthew R. Knee and Donald P. Green 312 Chapter XIV. I ssue Preferences, Civic Engagement, and the Transformation of American Politics by Edward G. Carmines, Michael J. Ensley, and Michael W. Wagner 329 References 355 Index 379
Priorities for people living with dementia: education, counseling, research

Hearing the voices of people living with dementia assists in a better understanding of their experiences. This understanding can pave the way for improved community-based service delivery such as education and counseling, as well as including them more frequently as research participants. The voices of people living with dementia have not been well represented in research, resulting in very few data describing their experiences. This paper describes empirical qualitative data from a study that asked people with Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease about their experiences. Recommendations are provided on education, counseling, and research.
An adaptive recurrent neuro-fuzzy filter for noisy speech enhancement

This work presents a novel adaptive recurrent neuro-fuzzy filter (ARNFF) for speech enhancement in noisy environment. The speech enhancement scheme consists of two microphones that receive a primary and a reference input source respectively, and the proposed ARNFF that attenuates the noise corrupting the original speech signal in the primary channel. The ARNFF is a connectionist network that can be translated effortlessly into a set of dynamic fuzzy rules and state-space equations as well. An effective learning algorithm, consisting of a clustering algorithm for the structure learning and a recurrent learning algorithm for the parameter learning, is adopted from our previous research for the ARNNF construction. From our computer simulations and comparisons with some existing filters, the advantages of the proposed ARNFF for noisy speech enhancement include: 1) a more compact filter structure, 2) no a priori knowledge needed for the exact lagged order of the input variables, 3) a better performance in long-delay environment.
International Monetary Policy Coordination An Evaluation of Cooperative Strategies using a large Econometric Model

Given the increase in world economic integration we wish to examine whether there is a case for coordinating monetary policy across some of the major economies. In late 1998 and early 1999, US monetary policy responded to global economic conditions and interest rates were cut in response to the crisis in Asia. But Europe could have also played an important role in helping to boost world demand given a serious economic downturn. We undertake stochastic simulations on the National Institute's World econometric model, NiGEM, in order to evaluate independently set monetary policy where domestic considerations remain the prime objective and a coordinated policy where domestic interest rates react to conditions outside the
Nordihydroguaiaretic Acid Extends the Lifespan of Drosophila and Mice, Increases Mortality-Related Tumors and Hemorrhagic Diathesis, and Alters Energy Homeostasis in Mice

Mesonordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) extends murine lifespan. The studies reported here describe its dose dependence, effects on body weight, toxicity-related clinical chemistries, and mortality-related pathologies. In flies, we characterized its effects on lifespan, food consumption, body weight, and locomotion. B6C3F1 mice were fed AIN-93M diet supplemented with 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, or 4.5g NDGA/kg diet (1.59, 2.65, 3.71 and 4.77mg/kg body weight/day) beginning at 12 months of age. Only the 3.5mg/kg diet produced a highly significant increase in lifespan, as judged by either the Mantel–Cox log-rank test (p = .008) or the Gehan–Breslow–Wilcoxon test (p = .009). NDGA did not alter food intake, but dose-responsively reduced weight, suggesting it decreased the absorption or increased the utilization of calories. NDGA significantly increased the incidence of liver, lung, and thymus tumors, and peritoneal hemorrhagic diathesis found at necropsy. However, clinical chemistries found little evidence for overt toxicity. While NDGA was not overtly toxic at its therapeutic dosage, its association with severe end of life pathologies does not support the idea that NDGA consumption will increase human lifespan or health-span. The less toxic derivatives of NDGA which are under development should be explored as anti-aging therapeutics.
Drivers ’ Lane Changing Behavior While Conversing On a Cell Phone in a Variable Density Simulated Highway Environment

This research examined the effect of naturalistic, hands-free, cell phone conversation on driver’s lane-changing behavior. Thirty-six undergraduate psychology students drove six 9.2-mile scenarios, in a simulated highway environment, with three levels of traffic density. Participants were instructed only to obey the speed limit and to signal when making a lane change. These simple driving instructions allowed participants to freely vary driving behaviors such as following distance, speed, and lane-changing maneuvers. Results indicated that, when drivers conversed on the cell phone, they made fewer lane changes, had a lower overall mean speed, and a significant increase in travel time in the medium and high density driving conditions. Drivers on the cell phone were also much more likely to remain behind a slower moving lead vehicle than drivers in single-task condition. No effect of cell phone conversation on following distance was observed. Possible implications on traffic flow characteristics are discussed. Cooper, Vladisavljevic, Strayer, Martin 3
Progress Report September 2002 Agoraphobia Research

Agoraphobia is a disabling condition. According to Davidson (2002) most agoraphobics feel uncomfortable in social scenarios, where the presence of others seems to lead personal freedom, uncontrollably, and provoke the fear and the apprehension of gaining other’s visual attention in an explosion of panic attack. “This means that agoraphobics to overcome their anxiety have to become especially skilled at finding ways to cope with others being around” [Davidson, 2002, p11].
Hypobaric-ischemic conditions produce glutamate-like cytopathology in infant rat brain

We present a new animal model of perinatal hypoxic/ischemic brain damage and compare this type of brain damage with the excitotoxic type of damage previously described in the brains of infant rats and monkeys treated systemically with glutamate (Glu). Ten-d-old rats with unilateral occlusion of the common carotid artery were subjected to hypobaric conditions for 75 min and sacrificed 0–4 hr later for light and electron microscopic brain examination. The mortality rate was relatively low (12%), and brain damage was evident ipsilateral to the ligated carotid in 94% of surviving animals 4 hr after termination of the hypobaric event. Regions most frequently affected were the medial habenulum, dentate gyrus, caudate nucleus, frontoparietal neocortices, olfactory tubercle, and several thalamic nuclei. The acute cytopathological changes, primarily edematous degeneration of neuronal dendrites and cell bodies, evolved very rapidly, with some neurons manifesting end-stage necrosis at 0 hr (immediately after hypobaric exposure) and others developing such changes over a 1–4-hr period. We conclude that the neurodegenerative reaction induced in infant rat brain by hypoxia/ischemia is indistinguishable from the excitotoxic type of damage exogenous Glu is known to cause. Moreover, in a companion study (Olney et al., 1989) we show that MK-801, a powerful antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor complex (subtype of Glu receptor), protects against neuronal degeneration in this hypobaric/ischemic model. Our results reinforce other recent evidence suggesting that hypoxic/ischemic brain damage is mediated by endogenous Glu or related excitotoxins.
Saliency detection by tensor voting based Gaussian modeling

Salient object detection is a challenging task in field of object segmentation and recognition. Many works have been proposed but remaining serious limitations. The answers for question:" How to highlight the entire salient object which has captured human eye? " is still unseen until now. In this paper, therefore, we propose a novel, efficient and simple saliency detection method using Gaussian Mixture Modeling based on tensor voting. At first, the color images are mapped into 2-D space in which tensor voting process is applied to find out extremes. Then, Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) is estimated and for each pixel, the set of normalized likelihood measures to different Gaussian Models are calculated. The color saliency value measure and spatial saliency measure of each Gaussian model are evaluated based on its color distinctiveness and spatial distribution. Finally, the final saliency map is generated by fusing color saliency map and spatial saliency map. We compare our algorithm to several states-of- the art saliency detection methods using the well-known 1000 available public images. The experimental results show that our method significantly outperforms the previous algorithm in both precision and recall. We also show the advantages of our work on object segmentation.
Kinematics analysis and optimization on a walking mechanism of bionic biped water-walking robot

A walking mechanism of bionic biped water-walking robot is designed, the equations of the location, velocity, acceleration and dynamics of the two are deduced by kinematics analysis. To simulate the foot trajectory of basilisk lizard's, taking the foot rod and the horizontal plane angle curve as the objective optimization function, the influences of the foot rod bar length change on the Influence of the horizontal plane angle have done. The walking mechanism is optimized by analyzing the influential factors of sensitivity. Finally the optimized mechanism is simulated, the simulation results show that the movement of this bionic walking mechanism can meet the basilisk lizards' foot trajectory.
Title Age-dependent Effect of Hearing Loss on Cortical Inhibitory Synapse 2 Function 3 4

Title Age-dependent effect of hearing loss on cortical inhibitory synapse 2 function 3 4 Authors Anne E. Takesian, Vibhakar C. Kotak, Dan H. Sanes 5 6 Author Affiliation Center for Neural Science 7 Department of Biology 8 New York University 9 4 Washington Place, Rm. 809 10 New York, NY 10003 11 12 Running Head Early hearing loss impacts cortical inhibition 13 14 Contact Information 15 Anne E. Takesian 16 Children’s Hospital Boston 17 Harvard Medical School 18 Center for Life Sciences Building 19 Room 13039 20 3 Blackfan Circle 21 Boston, MA 02115 22 Phone: 617-699-2045 23 Fax: 617-919-2380 24 Email: Anne.Takesian@childrens.harvard. edu 25 26 Figures 5 27 Tables 1 28 Pages 35 (including cover page, references, and figure legends) 29 30 Words 31 Abstract 207 32 Introduction 562 33 Methods 1495 34 Results 1444 35 Discussion 1757 36 37 38 39 Articles in PresS. J Neurophysiol (November 16, 2011). doi:10.1152/jn.00515. 2011
Regulation of Nonmuscle Myosin II by Tropomyosin

The actin cytoskeleton carries out cellular functions, including division, migration, adhesion, and intracellular transport, that require a variety of actin binding proteins, including myosins. Our focus here is on class II nonmuscle myosin isoforms, NMIIA, NMIIB, and NMIIC, and their regulation by the actin binding protein, tropomyosin. NMII myosins are localized to different populations of stress fibers and the contractile ring, structures involved in force generation required for cell migration, adhesion, and cytokinesis. The stress fibers and contractile ring that contain NMII myosins also contain tropomyosin. Four mammalian genes encode more than 40 tropomyosins. Tropomyosins inhibit or activate actomyosin MgATPase and motility depending on the myosin and tropomyosin isoform. In vivo, tropomyosins play a role in cell migration, adhesion, cytokinesis, and NMII isoform localization in an isoform-specific manner. We postulate that the isoform-specific tropomyosin localization and effect on NMII isoform localization reflect modulation of NMII actomyosin kinetics and motile function. In this study, we compare the ability of different tropomyosin isoforms to support actin filament motility with NMIIA, NMIIB, and NMIIC as well as skeletal muscle myosin. Tropomyosins activated, inhibited, or had no effect on motility depending on the myosin, indicating that the myosin isoform is the primary determinant of the isoform-specific effect of tropomyosin on actomyosin regulation. Activation of motility of nonmuscle tropomyosin–actin filaments by NMII myosin correlates with an increased Vmax of the myosin MgATPase, implying a direct effect on the myosin MgATPase, in contrast to the skeletal tropomyosin–actin filament that has no effect on the Vmax or maximal filament velocity.
Survey On Clustering Method For Randomized Dimensionality Reduction

: They study the topic of dimensionality reduction for k-means clustering. Dimensionality reduction covers the combination of two approaches first feature sele ction and second feature extraction. A feature selection-based algorithm for k-means clustering chooses a small subset of the input features and then applies k-means clustering on the selected features. A feature extraction-based algorithm for k-means clustering generates a small set of new artificial features and then applies k-means clustering on the constructed features. Even though the importance of k-means clustering as well as the wealth of heuristic methods addressing it, provably accurate feature selection methods for k-means clustering are not known. On the other hand, two provably accurate feature extraction methods for k-means clustering are identified in the literature that is one is based on random projections and the other is based on the singular value decomposition (SVD). This paper makes further advancement in the direction of a better understanding of dimensionality reduction for k-means clustering. Namely, they present the first provably accurate feature selection method for k-means clustering and, in addition, they present two feature extraction methods. The first feature extraction method is based on random projections and it improves upon the previous results in terms of time complexity and number of features needed to be extracted. The second feature extraction method is depends upon fast approximate SVD factorizations and it also improves upon the existing results in terms of time complexity. The proposed algorithms are randomized and present constant-factor approximation guarantees with respect to the optimal k-means objective value.
Performance of UWB MIMO Systems with Rake Receive Processing

In this paper, a rake diversity combining scheme for detection of a single data stream in ultra-wideband (UWB) multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems is considered as an extension of single input multiple output (SIMO) systems. The BER performance of a linear receive rake diversity scheme is presented in a log-normal multipath fading channel. It is shown that the increase of an antenna dimension happens to degrade the performance in the range of high SNRs. It is seen that as the number of transmit and receive antennas increases, the rake diversity combining system improves the performance at low SNRs or in the case of large antenna dimension at high SNRs.
Plexin-B2 Negatively Regulates Macrophage Motility, Rac, and Cdc42 Activation

Plexins are cell surface receptors widely studied in the nervous system, where they mediate migration and morphogenesis though the Rho family of small GTPases. More recently, plexins have been implicated in immune processes including cell-cell interaction, immune activation, migration, and cytokine production. Plexin-B2 facilitates ligand induced cell guidance and migration in the nervous system, and induces cytoskeletal changes in overexpression assays through RhoGTPase. The function of Plexin-B2 in the immune system is unknown. This report shows that Plexin-B2 is highly expressed on cells of the innate immune system in the mouse, including macrophages, conventional dendritic cells, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells. However, Plexin-B2 does not appear to regulate the production of proinflammatory cytokines, phagocytosis of a variety of targets, or directional migration towards chemoattractants or extracellular matrix in mouse macrophages. Instead, Plxnb2−/− macrophages have greater cellular motility than wild type in the unstimulated state that is accompanied by more active, GTP-bound Rac and Cdc42. Additionally, Plxnb2−/− macrophages demonstrate faster in vitro wound closure activity. Studies have shown that a closely related family member, Plexin-B1, binds to active Rac and sequesters it from downstream signaling. The interaction of Plexin-B2 with Rac has only been previously confirmed in yeast and bacterial overexpression assays. The data presented here show that Plexin-B2 functions in mouse macrophages as a negative regulator of the GTPases Rac and Cdc42 and as a negative regulator of basal cell motility and wound healing.