Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional Control of Hepatic Lipid Metabolism by SREBP and ChREBP

Abstract The liver is a central organ that controls systemic energy homeostasis and nutrient metabolism. Dietary carbohydrates and lipids, and fatty acids derived from adipose tissue are delivered to the liver, and utilized for gluconeogenesis, lipogenesis, and ketogenesis, which are tightly regulated by hormonal and neural signals. Hepatic lipogenesis is activated primarily by insulin that is secreted from the pancreas after a high-carbohydrate meal. Sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein (ChREBP) are major transcriptional regulators that induce key lipogenic enzymes to promote lipogenesis in the liver. Sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c is activated by insulin through complex signaling cascades that control SREBP-1c at both transcriptional and posttranslational levels. Carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein is activated by glucose independently of insulin. Here, the authors attempt to summarize the current understanding of the molecular mechanism for the transcriptional regulation of hepatic lipogenesis, focusing on recent studies that explore the signaling pathways controlling SREBPs and ChREBP.
Conducting Prescribed Fires: A Comprehensive Manual. By John R. Weir. 2009. Texas A&M University Press, College Station, Texas, USA. 194 pp. Paper. US$28.00. ISBN-13: 978-1-60344-134-6

Landowners and managers, municipalities, the logging and livestock industries, and conservation professionals all increasingly recognize that setting prescribed fires may reduce the devastating effects of wildfire, control invasive brush and weeds, improve livestock range and health, maintain wildlife habitat, control parasites, manage forest lands, remove hazardous fuel in the wildland-urban interface, and create residential buffer zones.
PIWI Associated siRNAs and piRNAs Specifically Require the Caenorhabditis elegans HEN1 Ortholog henn-1

Small RNAs—including piRNAs, miRNAs, and endogenous siRNAs—bind Argonaute proteins to form RNA silencing complexes that target coding genes, transposons, and aberrant RNAs. To assess the requirements for endogenous siRNA formation and activity in Caenorhabditis elegans, we developed a GFP-based sensor for the endogenous siRNA 22G siR-1, one of a set of abundant siRNAs processed from a precursor RNA mapping to the X chromosome, the X-cluster. Silencing of the sensor is also dependent on the partially complementary, unlinked 26G siR-O7 siRNA. We show that 26G siR-O7 acts in trans to initiate 22G siRNA formation from the X-cluster. The presence of several mispairs between 26G siR-O7 and the X-cluster mRNA, as well as mutagenesis of the siRNA sensor, indicates that siRNA target recognition is permissive to a degree of mispairing. From a candidate reverse genetic screen, we identified several factors required for 22G siR-1 activity, including the chromatin factors mes-4 and gfl-1, the Argonaute ergo-1, and the 3′ methyltransferase henn-1. Quantitative RT–PCR of small RNAs in a henn-1 mutant and deep sequencing of methylated small RNAs indicate that siRNAs and piRNAs that associate with PIWI clade Argonautes are methylated by HENN-1, while siRNAs and miRNAs that associate with non-PIWI clade Argonautes are not. Thus, PIWI-class Argonaute proteins are specifically adapted to associate with methylated small RNAs in C. elegans.
Towards Intention-Aware Systems

Intention-Aware systems are introduced as a system class which enables user support based on intention detection. Thereby, intention-aware systems build on the user-centric support approach of attention-aware systems and the environmentcentric support approach of context-aware systems. A framework for intention-aware systems is proposed, highlighting the importance of a task model.We review 16 contextaware and attention-aware systems as foundation for the work on a task model for intention-aware systems.
A bandwidth-enhanced antenna in LDS technology for LTE700 and GSM850/900 standards

An antenna to cover the LTE700 and GSM850/900 frequency bands (i.e. 700-960MHz) for a typical handheld mobile communication device is presented. The design challenge is the relatively short system ground plane which is only 75mm long, relying only on the smartphone touchscreen as the ground plane. In order to obtain a high bandwidth potential with a single antenna feed, a grounded parasitic element is used in conjunction with the main excited strip. The antenna is manufactured using Laser Direct Structuring technology on a plastic piece. The connection between the antenna on plastic and the PCB is done thanks to two pogo-pins placed underneath the plastic piece. To tune the antenna to the desired frequency bands, a matching network consisting of only two lumped elements was manufactured on the PCB at the antenna feed. The target frequency band (i.e 700-960MHz) is covered with a reflection coefficient below -6dB both in simulations and measurements. The total efficiency of the antenna is measured to be higher than 45% on the whole bandwidth.
Deep sequencing of small RNAs identifies canonical and non-canonical miRNA and endogenous siRNAs in mammalian somatic tissues

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression. They are characterized by specific maturation processes defined by canonical and non-canonical biogenic pathways. Analysis of ∼0.5 billion sequences from mouse data sets derived from different tissues, developmental stages and cell types, partly characterized by either ablation or mutation of the main proteins belonging to miRNA processor complexes, reveals 66 high-confidence new genomic loci coding for miRNAs that could be processed in a canonical or non-canonical manner. A proportion of the newly discovered miRNAs comprises mirtrons, for which we define a new sub-class. Notably, some of these newly discovered miRNAs are generated from untranslated and open reading frames of coding genes, and we experimentally validate these. We also show that many annotated miRNAs do not present miRNA-like features, as they are neither processed by known processing complexes nor loaded on AGO2; this indicates that the current miRNA miRBase database list should be refined and re-defined. Accordingly, a group of them map on ribosomal RNA molecules, whereas others cannot undergo genuine miRNA biogenesis. Notably, a group of annotated miRNAs are Dgcr8 independent and DICER dependent endogenous small interfering RNAs that derive from a unique hairpin formed from a short interspersed nuclear element.
Geological layers detection and characterisation using high resolution 3D point clouds: example of a box-fold in the Swiss Jura Mountains

Abstract The detection and characterisation of geological layers, as well as the precise quantification of their geometrical properties, is of primary interest in several domains of geology. Nevertheless, geological data gathering is commonly limited by access issues during fieldwork investigations. Here we present complementary and alternative tools aimed at allowing the investigation of areas with limited accessibility, such as vertical rock faces. We used 3D point clouds acquired from Terrestrial Laser Scanning and terrestrial photogrammetry to: 1) identify and model (reconstruct) the geometry of the geological layers and 2) semi-automatically segment the different lithologies according to their intensity signature. Our results show that the presented procedures are fast, reliable and efficient compared to traditional fieldwork. In particular, the geometrical analysis led to a very detailed characterisation of the bedding planes, which couldn't be targeted with sufficient precision based on fieldwork alone. The lithological mapping procedure, which was obtained through a semi-automatic segmentation process of a single intensity channel, is highly capable since nearly all the layers were correctly attributed to their corresponding lithology. The performance of the segmentation script was closely related to our prior fieldwork investigation, yielding validation of our semi-automatic point cloud segmentation.
NICA Cares for Me! Planning Socially Intelligent Reactions in a Caring Robot

Ambient Intelligence solutions may provide a great opportunity for elderly people to live longer at home. Assistance and care are delegated to the intelligence embedded in the environment. However, besides considering service-oriented response to the user needs, the assistance has to take into account the establishment of social relations that become particularly relevant when media are not boxed in a desktop computer but are integrated pervasively in everyday life environments. We propose the use of a robot NICA (as the name of the project Natural Interaction with a Caring Agent) acting as a caring assistant that provides a social interface with the smart home services. In this paper, we introduce the general architecture of the robot’s “mind” and then we focus on the need to properly react to affective and socially oriented situations. In doing so, the robot implements a meta-level reasoner able to interpret the situation and to understand when to interrupt the current behavior in order to handle the new situation. To this aim it uses a probabilistic model to revise its beliefs and to trigger high-level goals. According to the selected goal the behavioral plan is computed by choosing the most appropriate set of actions.
Profiling Computation Jobs in Grid Systems

The existence of good probabilistic models for the job arrival process and job characteristics is important for the improved understanding of grid systems and the prediction of their performance. In this study, we present a thorough analysis of the job inter-arrival times, the waiting times at the queues, the execution times, and the data sizes exchanged at the kallisto.hellasgrid. gr cluster, which is part of the EGEE Grid infrastructure. By computing the Hurst parameter of the inter-arrival times we find that the job arrival process exhibits self-similarity/long-range dependence. We also propose simple and intuitive models for the job arrival process and the job execution times. The models proposed were validated and were found to be in very good agreement with our empirical measurements.
Common Variants in CDKAL1, CDKN2A/B, IGF2BP2, SLC30A8, and HHEX/IDE Genes Are Associated With Type 2 Diabetes and Impaired Fasting Glucose in a Chinese Han Population

OBJECTIVE— Genome-wide association studies have identified common variants in CDKAL1, CDKN2A/B, IGF2BP2, SLC30A8, HHEX/IDE, EXT2, and LOC387761 loci that significantly increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. We aimed to replicate these observations in a population-based cohort of Chinese Hans and examine the associations of these variants with type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related phenotypes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS— We genotyped 17 single nucleotide polymorhisms (SNPs) in 3,210 unrelated Chinese Hans, including 424 participants with type 2 diabetes, 878 with impaired fasting glucose (IFG), and 1,908 with normal fasting glucose. RESULTS— We confirmed the associations between type 2 diabetes and variants near CDKAL1 (odds ratio 1.49 [95% CI 1.27–1.75]; P = 8.91 × 10−7) and CDKN2A/B (1.31 [1.12–1.54]; P = 1.0 × 10−3). We observed significant association of SNPs in IGF2BP2 (1.17 [1.03–1.32]; P = 0.014) and SLC30A8 (1.12 [1.01–1.25]; P = 0.033) with combined IFG/type 2 diabetes. The SNPs in CDKAL1, IGF2BP2, and SLC30A8 were also associated with impaired β-cell function estimated by homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function. When combined, each additional risk allele from CDKAL1-rs9465871, CDKN2A/B-rs10811661, IGF2BP2-rs4402960, and SLC30A8-rs13266634 increased the risk for type 2 diabetes by 1.24-fold (P = 2.85 × 10−7) or for combined IFG/type 2 diabetes by 1.21-fold (P = 6.31 × 10−11). None of the SNPs in EXT2 or LOC387761 exhibited significant association with type 2 diabetes or IFG. Significant association was observed between the HHEX/IDE SNPs and type 2 diabetes in individuals from Shanghai only (P < 0.013) but not in those from Beijing (P > 0.33). CONCLUSIONS— Our results indicate that in Chinese Hans, common variants in CDKAL1, CDKN2A/B, IGF2BP2, and SLC30A8 loci independently or additively contribute to type 2 diabetes risk, likely mediated through β-cell dysfunction.
A New Oral Iron Therapy for Iron Deficiency Anemia : Preliminary Clinical Results on A Case Series of 12 Anemic Patients

Iron deficiency (ID) represents the most common nutritional disorders worldwide accounting for approximately one-half of anemia cases. Oral iron therapy seems to be the first-choice approach to treat iron deficiency anemia (IDA) also if Gastrointestinal adverse effects such us nausea, epigastric discomfort, constipation, and diarrhea could represent a barrier to patient’s adherence to treatment protocol. Ferrous Bysglicinate Chelate has demonstrated an interesting profile in terms of efficacy and safety after oral administration because of its chemicals properties. To improve patient’s adherence to oral iron, therapy a new co-processed compound between Ferrous bysglicinate Chelate and Alginic Acid (FERALGINE®) obtained by using Spray drying technique has been developed. 12 adult consecutive patients affected by iron deficiency anemia (IDA)) has been treated with FERALGINE® (1 caps/day containing 30 mg of elemental iron) for a period between 35 and 60 days: at the end of the study every patient statistically significant improved its Hb, Red Blood Cells, HCT, MCV, Plasma Iron concentration and Ferritin values without Gastrointestinal adverse effects. FERALGINE®, a new co-processed compound, seems to be useful in iron deficiency anemia (IDA) domiciliary management because of its pharmacodynamic profile that allows to patients a good domiciliary compliance to oral iron therapy.
A preliminary report on the Early Oligocene (Rupelian, Kiscellian) selachians from the Kiscell Formation (Buda Mts, Hungary), with the re-discovery of Wilhelm Weiler’s shark teeth

An Early Oligocene (Rupelian, Kiscellian), partially published shark tooth material, unearthed from the Kiscell Clay (Budapest, Hungary) is shortly reviewed here. A few shark taxa have been published by Wilhelm Weiler in 1933 and 1938, and some of this material was re-dis- covered in the Hungarian Natural History Museum. Th e here described shark taxa are Notorynchus primigenius , Hexanchus agassizi , Heptranchias howelli , Araloselachus cuspidatus , Carcharias spp. , Carcharoides catticus , Isurolamna gracilis , Otodus ( Carcharocles ) angustidens , Alopias cf. exigua , Car- charhinus sp. , and Physogaleus latus . Th e results indicate a relatively diverse shark fauna with mixed ecological needs. Th e revised list of the local selachian taxa suggests that a detailed review of all Kiscell shark material (collected in the last century), placed both in public and private collections, is needed. With 73 fi gures, 1 table and 1 appendix.
Therapeutic and educational objectives in robot assisted play for children with autism

This article is a methodological paper that describes the therapeutic and educational objectives that were identified during the design process of a robot aimed at robot assisted play. The work described in this paper is part of the IROMEC project (Interactive Robotic Social Mediators as Companions) that recognizes the important role of play in child development and targets children who are prevented from or inhibited in playing. The project investigates the role of an interactive, autonomous robotic toy in therapy and education for children with special needs. This paper specifically addresses the therapeutic and educational objectives related to children with autism. In recent years, robots have already been used to teach basic social interaction skills to children with autism. The added value of the IROMEC robot is that play scenarios have been developed taking children's specific strengths and needs into consideration and covering a wide range of objectives in children's development areas (sensory, communicational and interaction, motor, cognitive and social and emotional). The paper describes children's developmental areas and illustrates how different experiences and interactions with the IROMEC robot are designed to target objectives in these areas.
Removal of parasitic image due to metal specularity based on digital micromirror device camera

Abstract. Visual inspection for a highly reflective surface is commonly faced with a serious limitation, which is that useful information on geometric construction and textural defects is covered by a parasitic image due to specular highlights. In order to solve the problem, we propose an effective method for removing the parasitic image. Specifically, a digital micromirror device (DMD) camera for programmable imaging is first described. The strength of the optical system is to process scene ray before image formation. Based on the DMD camera, an iterative algorithm of modulated region selection, precise region mapping, and multimodulation provides removal of the parasitic image and reconstruction of a correction image. Finally, experimental results show the performance of the proposed approach.
Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants

Download PDF Ebook and Read OnlineStockholm Convention On Persistent Organic Pollutants Pdf%0D. Get Stockholm Convention On Persistent Organic Pollutants Pdf%0D STOCKHOLM CONVENTION ON PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS The STOCKHOLM CONVENTION ON PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS The Parties to this Convention, Recognizing that persistent organic pollutants possess toxic properties, resist http://www.toofab. co/STOCKHOLM-CONVENTION-ON-PERSISTENT-ORGANIC-POLLUTANTS-The --. pdf an the Stockholm Convention European Commission Main legal instruments covering the obligations of the Stockholm Convention in the EU: Regulation (EC) No 850/2004 of the European Parliament and Council of 29 April 2004 on persistent organic pollutants and amending Directive 79/117/EC. http://www.toofab. co/an-the-Stockholm-Convention-European-Commission.pdf Stockholm Convention env go jp STOCKHOLM CONVENTION ON PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS 2 INTRODUCTION The Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants was adopted at a Conference of Plenipotentiaries on 22 May 2001 in Stockholm, Sweden. http://www.toofab. co/Stockholm-Convention-env-go-jp.pdf Persistent organic pollutants Stockholm Convention Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) [PDF 616KB] Plain language summary The Convention aims to reduce levels of POPs entering the environment over time; by eliminating or restricting releases of POP industrial chemicals and pesticides, unintentionally produced POP by-products and stockpiles and POP wastes. http://www.toofab. co/Persistent-organic-pollutants--Stockholm-Convention--. pdf STOCKHOLM CONVENTION ON PERSISTENT ORGANIC POLLUTANTS POPs
Preventing traffic analysis for real-time communication networks

We address issues related to preventing traffic analysis in computer networks used for real time mission-critical applications. We consider an IP-based network where headers of packets, including source host address and destination host address, are readable by an observer (i.e., by a potential enemy). Although the encryption of network packets significantly increases privacy, the density of the traffic can still provide useful information to the observer. We take an approach by manipulating traffic in the network through host-based rerouting and traffic padding so that the traffic shows a time-invariant pattern. Thus, the observer can not derive any useful information about the real traffic pattern. By evaluating the performance of the algorithms used for this problem in terms of acceptance rate and execution time, we found that some well-known theoretical optimal and near-optimal algorithms failed to meet one or the other criteria. We present a heuristic method that can effectively prevent traffic analysis while at the same time meeting real-time requirements. Our algorithm generates a plan that specifies where and when the dummy packets should be transmitted and if and how the payload packets should be rerouted and can yield high acceptance rate with low execution time. The success of the algorithm stems from the fact that it explicitly takes into account the real-time requirements and properly balances the traffic over the links.
LANDFILL LEACHATE MONITORING: APPLICATIONS OF STABLE ISOTOPES

The most significant impact of a landfill on the surrounding environment has been consistently identified as arising from the leachate (Farquhar 1989; CAE 1992; Mulvey 1997). Therefore, environmental monitoring programmes for landfills tend to focus on the detection of leachate impacts, particularly any contamination of ground and surface water (Lee and Jones 1991; DCC 1994). Conventional monitoring programmes involve periodic sampling of ground and surface waters surrounding a landfill, for chemical indicators of contamination, such as ammonium, chloride, and heavy metal levels. However, this conventional approach may not be effective in environments where the background levels of many of the chemical indicators are already high, such as wetland areas or sites with contamination that pre-dates the landfill. There is a need for an indicator that can positively identify leachate as the source of contamination in a monitored environment. Stable isotope analysis is being increasingly used in studies of environmental pollution as a means of pinpointing pollution sources (Peterson and Fry 1987; Macko and Ostrom 1994). The relatively distinct isotopic ratios or signatures of substances, created through biogeochemical processes, offer great potential for tracing contaminants such as leachate in the environment.
Choice of Human–Computer Interaction Mode in Stroke Rehabilitation

Background and Objective. Advances in technology are providing new forms of human–computer interaction. The current study examined one form of human–computer interaction, augmented reality (AR), whereby subjects train in the real-world workspace with virtual objects projected by the computer. Motor performances were compared with those obtained while subjects used a traditional human–computer interaction, that is, a personal computer (PC) with a mouse. Methods. Patients used goal-directed arm movements to play AR and PC versions of the Fruit Ninja video game. The 2 versions required the same arm movements to control the game but had different cognitive demands. With AR, the game was projected onto the desktop, where subjects viewed the game plus their arm movements simultaneously, in the same visual coordinate space. In the PC version, subjects used the same arm movements but viewed the game by looking up at a computer monitor. Results. Among 18 patients with chronic hemiparesis after stroke, the AR game was associated with 21% higher game scores (P = .0001), 19% faster reaching times (P = .0001), and 15% less movement variability (P = .0068), as compared to the PC game. Correlations between game score and arm motor status were stronger with the AR version. Conclusions. Motor performances during the AR game were superior to those during the PC game. This result is due in part to the greater cognitive demands imposed by the PC game, a feature problematic for some patients but clinically useful for others. Mode of human–computer interface influences rehabilitation therapy demands and can be individualized for patients.