Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Retroviral expression of alternatively spliced forms of rat fibronectin

We describe the construction in retroviral vectors and the expression of recombinant rat fibronectin (FN) cDNAs corresponding with the various alternatively spliced forms of FN. In NIH 3T3 cells, the exogenous rat FN subunits are efficiently secreted as heterodimers with endogenous mouse subunits. In contrast, in lymphoid WEHI231 cells, there is no endogenous FN synthesis and the recombinant FNs are secreted and can be purified as homogeneous proteins. We show that the purified recombinant FNs are biochemically and biologically functional. In basic assays for adhesion, spreading, cytoskeletal organization, and migration using various established adherent cell lines, different forms of FNs containing the different alternatively spliced segments show no marked differences in activity. We have used these recombinant FNs to investigate three systems in which earlier results had suggested potential differences between different forms of FN. First, all forms tested appear equally active in restoring normal morphology to a transformed cell line. Second, we detect minor differences in their ability to assemble into preexisting extracellular matrices. Finally, we report that only those forms of FN that contain the V segment will promote the spreading of a lymphoid cell line indicating that this segment confers additional biological functions for some cell types, a result that confirms and extends earlier data. These homogeneous, biologically active recombinant FNs will allow further studies of the role of the alternatively spliced segments of FN.
Sharing metadata - problems and potential solutions

We investigate the level of agreement in applying metadata and highlights results from the analysis of agreement between and within user communities. Problems in applying and sharing metadata are diagnosed by examining the reliability of metadata application by domain experts, especially when contrasted to researchers. Three main problems are discussed: issues pertaining to data, the metadata and the application process. Strategies are proposed to resolve these issues. Our research highlights the need for diagnostic tools that identify the sources of poor agreement and therefore guide steps to improve metadata application and sharing.
Measuring Generalization Performance in Coevolutionary Learning

Coevolutionary learning involves a training process where training samples are instances of solutions that interact strategically to guide the evolutionary (learning) process. One main research issue is with the generalization performance, i.e., the search for solutions (e.g., input-output mappings) that best predict the required output for any new input that has not been seen during the evolutionary process. However, there is currently no such framework for determining the generalization performance in coevolutionary learning even though the notion of generalization is well-understood in machine learning. In this paper, we introduce a theoretical framework to address this research issue. We present the framework in terms of game-playing although our results are more general. Here, a strategy's generalization performance is its average performance against all test strategies. Given that the true value may not be determined by solving analytically a closed-form formula and is computationally prohibitive, we propose an estimation procedure that computes the average performance against a small sample of random test strategies instead. We perform a mathematical analysis to provide a statistical claim on the accuracy of our estimation procedure, which can be further improved by performing a second estimation on the variance of the random variable. For game-playing, it is well-known that one is more interested in the generalization performance against a biased and diverse sample of "good" test strategies. We introduce a simple approach to obtain such a test sample through the multiple partial enumerative search of the strategy space that does not require human expertise and is generally applicable to a wide range of domains. We illustrate the generalization framework on the coevolutionary learning of the iterated prisoner's dilemma (IPD) games. We investigate two definitions of generalization performance for the IPD game based on different performance criteria, e.g., in terms of the number of wins based on individual outcomes and in terms of average payoff. We show that a small sample of test strategies can be used to estimate the generalization performance. We also show that the generalization performance using a biased and diverse set of "good" test strategies is lower compared to the unbiased case for the IPD game. This is the first time that generalization is defined and analyzed rigorously in coevolutionary learning. The framework allows the evaluation of the generalization performance of any coevolutionary learning system quantitatively.
Le pouvoir dans les rapports de travail : Essor juridique d'une nuisance économique

Le travail automatique ou de pure execution a perdu peu a peu la place preponderante qui fut la sienne. L'essor du secteur tertiaire et celui des tâches cognitives ou relationnelles font de plus en plus dependre la productivite du travail de facteurs humains incontrolables. Il en resulte que l'efficacite economique de la soumission des travailleurs est decroissante. Parallelement, le pouvoir des employeurs semble pourtant s'intensifier. De tels constats permettent de porter un regard critique sur les evolutions en cours du droit du travail.
Final results of a phase I study of oral belinostat (PXD101) in patients with solid tumors.

3531 Background: Belinostat (Bel) is a histone deacetylase inhibitor with broad preclinical activity. IV Bel is well-tolerated with clinical activity at 1 g/m2 daily x5, q3w. METHODS Patients (pts) were treated with multiple schedules (see table) to assess safety, pharmacokinetics (PK) and efficacy. PK was done on day (d) 1 (fasting) and d7 (non-fasting) along with serial ECGs. RESULTS 92 pts, median age 60 (range 32-89) have been included. Major cancer types included colorectal (22%), prostate (17%), bladder (11%). Most frequent related adverse events (AEs), any grade (gr), were fatigue (53%), nausea (49%), anorexia (36%), vomiting (27%), diarrhea (25%). Only related gr 3/4 AE noted by more than 1 pt was fatigue. Hematological tox included gr 2: anemia (6 pts), leucopenia (2 pts), and thrombocytopenia (1 pt). Two events of gr 2 QTc prolongation were reported. Recommended dose (RD) for continuous dosing was determined as 250 mg, QD or BID, based on dose limiting toxicity (DLT; gr 3 if not indicated) seen in 2 pts in cohort 2A: dehydration and fatigue. Based on overall tolerability and DLTs (cohort 2C fatigue; 3C gr 2 nausea/vomiting/diarrhea; 4C atypical chest pain, elevated creatinine; 2D atrial fibrillation, hypokalemia, fatigue) the RD for d1-14 dosing was determined as 750 mg QD, with option for intra-pt dose escalation if limited tox. For d1-5 dosing, evaluation of the highest dose-cohort is not finalized; 1 pt had gr 3 psychosis, but also experienced same event 16d after treatment stopped. Exposure of Bel in plasma correlates with dose; PK on d1/d7 indicate a possible effect of food. To date, 33 pts (41%) have SD; 5 pts ≥6 months (d on treatment: 710 adenoidcystic, +488 bladder, 485 renal, 196 rectal, 182 prostate), and 12 pts 3-6 months. CONCLUSIONS Oral Bel can be delivered safely with multiple schedules. The safety profile and long stabilizations in multiple tumor types makes Bel an interesting option for further evaluation as a monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy. [Table: see text] [Table: see text].
Some Properties of Multiple-Antenna-Port and Multiple-User-Port Antenna Tuners

A user port impedance range and a user port tuning range characterize an antenna tuner at a given frequency. These sets and their local dimensions are defined and studied for an antenna tuner having any number n of antenna ports and any number m of user ports. A reciprocal antenna tuner is said to have a full tuning capability if it can provide or compensate all relevant small impedance variations, under the assumption that its adjustable impedance devices can provide suitable reactance values. For reciprocal antennas and a reciprocal antenna tuner, it is proven that the local dimension of the user port impedance range is equal to m(m+1) if and only if the antenna tuner has a full tuning capability. We use this result to study an antenna tuner made of several uncoupled single-antenna-port and single-user-port antenna tuners. We also use this result to show that a new multiple-antenna-port and multiple-user-port antenna tuner has a full tuning capability.
Abdominal lymph flow in an endotoxin sepsis model: Influence of spontaneous breathing and mechanical ventilation*

Objective:Lymph flow from the abdomen was investigated in a sepsis model. We also compared the effect on thoracic duct lymph flow of mechanical ventilation with different levels of positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) and spontaneous breathing with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Design:Experimental study. Setting:Research laboratory in a university hospital. Subjects:Thirty-two pigs. Interventions:Animals were anesthetized. In study 1 (n = 18), an ultrasonic flow probe was put around the intact thoracic duct just caudal to the diaphragm, and animals were randomized to receive mechanical ventilation with a PEEP of 5 cm H2O or 15 cm H2O or breathed spontaneously in CPAP with a PEEP of 5 cm H2O. In study 2 (n = 6), the thoracic duct was cannulated and the cannula externalized through the abdominal wall for lymph collection; animals were then ventilated as in study 1. In all animals, endotoxin was infused at 15 &mgr;g/kg/hr for 2.5 hrs and then continued at 5 &mgr;g/kg/hr. In study 3, healthy (n = 4) and endotoxin-exposed (n = 4) pigs had intra-abdominal pressure increased to 27 cm H2O for 2 hrs by pneumoperitoneum. Lymph flow was measured as in study 1. Measurements and Main Results:Lymph flow (mean ± se) was 2.5 ± 0.4 mL/min at baseline and increased to 3.9 ± 0.8 mL/min after 90 mins and 6.3 ± 1.6 mL/min after 150 mins (p < .005) of endotoxin exposure. PEEP 15 cm H2O decreased lymph flow in pigs with intact thoracic duct (flow probe recording) and in pigs with cannulated lymph duct when drained against the central venous pressure. However, when drained against atmospheric pressure, PEEP increased flow. Spontaneous breathing increased flow both in intact and in cannulated animals. Conclusions:Endotoxin increases lymph flow from the abdomen. Mechanical ventilation with high PEEP impedes lymph drainage and could increase lymph production. Spontaneous breathing increases flow and improves drainage of abdominal edema.
Visualizing stimulus convergence in amygdala neurons during associative learning

A central feature of models of associative memory formation is the reliance on information convergence from pathways responsive to the conditioned stimulus (CS) and unconditioned stimulus (US). In particular, cells receiving coincident input are held to be critical for subsequent plasticity. Yet identification of neurons in the mammalian brain that respond to such coincident inputs during a learning event remains elusive. Here we use Arc cellular compartmental analysis of temporal gene transcription by fluorescence in situ hybridization (catFISH) to locate populations of neurons in the mammalian brain that respond to both the CS and US during training in a one-trial learning task, conditioned taste aversion (CTA). Individual neurons in the basolateral nucleus of the amygdala (BLA) responded to both the CS taste and US drug during conditioning. Coincident activation was not evident, however, when stimulus exposure was altered so as to be ineffective in promoting learning (backward conditioning, latent inhibition). Together, these data provide clear visualization of neurons in the mammalian brain receiving convergent information about the CS and US during acquisition of a learned association.
Neural Crest Migration and Survival Are Susceptible to Morpholino-Induced Artifacts

The neural crest (NC) is a stem cell-like embryonic population that is essential for generating and patterning the vertebrate body, including the craniofacial skeleton and peripheral nervous system. Defects in NC development underlie many birth defects and contribute to formation of some of the most malignant cancers in humans, such as melanoma and neuroblastoma. For these reasons, significant research efforts have been expended to identify genes that control NC development, as it is expected to lead to a deeper understanding of the genetic mechanisms controlling vertebrate development and identify new treatments for NC-derived diseases and cancers. However, a number of inconsistencies regarding gene function during NC development have emerged from comparative analyses of gene function between mammalian and non-mammalian systems (chick, frog, zebrafish). This poses a significant barrier to identification of single genes and/or redundant pathways to target in NC diseases. Here, we determine whether technical differences, namely morpholino-based approaches used in non-mammalian systems, could contribute to these discrepancies, by examining the extent to which NC phenotypes in fascin1a (fscn1a) morphant embryos are similar to or different from fscn1a null mutants in zebrafish. Analysis of fscn1a morphants showed that they mimicked early NC phenotypes observed in fscn1a null mutants; however, these embryos also displayed NC migration and derivative phenotypes not observed in null mutants, including accumulation of p53-independent cell death. These data demonstrate that morpholinos can cause seemingly specific NC migration and derivative phenotypes, and thus have likely contributed to the inconsistencies surrounding NC gene function between species. We suggest that comparison of genetic mutants between different species is the most rigorous method for identifying conserved genetic mechanisms controlling NC development and is critical to identify new treatments for NC diseases.
Diabetic neuropathy

It has been generally accepted that diabetic neuropathy is associated with substantial morbidity and increased mortality, and that aldose reductase inhibitors are of potential therapeutic value, whereas the beneficial effect of strict insulin treatment is questionable. Contrary to these expectations, population-based studies now report only 6% occurrence of severe neuropathy among insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients. Also, intensified insulin treatment preserved conduction velocity for 5 years in a large group of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients and reduced neuropathy development by 60%, whereas studies on aldose reductase inhibitors failed to produce any convincing therapeutic effect.
Self- and peer-assessment and taking responsibility: the science student's role in formative assessment

Several empirical and theoretical research studies have concluded that an essential condition for the development of formative assessment is that students become engaged in self- and peer-assessment. This article describes work on this issue by twelve science teachers in six schools working with a team at King's College London, and draws extensively on teachers' own written accounts of their experiences. The rationale and the practices developed are described, and a closing section discusses whether or not the new classroom methods described are practicable, given the current pressures on schools. This article is a complement to an earlier one on the teacher's role in formative assessment.
Mechanisms of Human Papillomavirus E2-Mediated Repression of Viral Oncogene Expression and Cervical Cancer Cell Growth Inhibition

ABSTRACT The papillomavirus E2 gene product plays a pivotal role in viral replication. E2 has multiple functions, including (i) transcriptional activation and repression of viral promoters and (ii) the enhancement of viral DNA replication. It was previously reported that E2 suppressed the growth of papillomavirus-positive cervical carcinoma cell lines. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms of E2 growth inhibition. We found that the transcriptional activation function of E2 is required for inhibition of the growth of HeLa cells as well as for transcriptional repression of the viralE6/E7 promoter. It had been previously postulated that transcriptional repression of the E6/E7 promoter results from E2 binding its cognate sites proximal to the E6/E7promoter and displacing other cellular transcriptional factors. In this study, we report a requirement for the transcription activation function for the binding of E2 to transcriptionally active templates.
The Discourse of Consumer Choice in the Pathways Housing First Model

This article focuses on the discourse of consumer choice produced in the Pathways Housing First (PHF) model manual. Relying on Foucauldian discourse analysis, the discourse is examined as embedded in a wider societal discursive formation – an advanced liberal way of governing subjects. The discourse is formed from seven statements organized in relation to each other: 1) emphasizing clients’ own choices is an alternative to traditional professional care, 2) clients are capable of making their own choices, 3) choice-making strengthens clients’ self-determination and individual mastery, 4) more choice oppor tunities increase clients’ motivation and commitment and lead to recovery, 5) choice does not mean absolute choice – certain limits exist, 6) efforts are made to reduce risks related to choices, but repeated failures diminish client choices, and 7) ‘never-ending’ failures might mean the end of clienthood in the PHF programme. The discourse echoes the ethos of advanced liberalism; subjects are governed to make them responsible choicemakers with the main aim being the achievement of ‘recovered’ people. Clients whose choices are repeatedly regarded as wrong, and whose recovery processes are accordingly considered unsuccessful, risk being excluded from the PHF programmes and forced into a position where individual choicemaking is no longer possible.
Z-shaped Perspective-Three-Line Problem's Unique Solution Conditions

Perspective-three-line (P3L) problem when three lines are coplanar and placed as Z-shaped is studied for camera pose determination from a single perspective view and 2-D to 3-D line correspondences. We find the problem’s solution number depends on the location of optical center of the camera. If the optical center locates inside two conical cones or on a special plane, the problem has a unique solution, otherwise it has two possible solutions at most. The conclusions are proved via geometric method. The results show that line features can be applied to pose measurement in computer vision systems.
Client-driven channel management for wireless LANs

With the explosive growth in the density of 802.11 access points (APs) in the form of hotspots and public/home access networks, coordinating the shared use of spectrum has become an important problem. The irregular coverage topologies present in WLANs due to the vagaries of the indoor RF environment make the channel assignment algorithms in cellular networks inapplicable [1, 2].
Pituitary Disorders Familial Isolated Pituitary Adenomas

Over the last century several families have been described with familial isolated pituitary adenomas (FIPAs). Most commonly, family members have acromegaly or prolactinoma, but other types of pituitary adenomas can also occur. Recently, mutations in the AIP (aryl hydrocarbon receptor interacting protein) gene have been found to occur in 30–50% of FIPA patients, while for the rest of the patients the gene causing the disease is currently unknown and is a topic of intense research. Tumours in patients with AIP mutations are diagnosed at significantly younger ages and tend to be larger. Often the response to medical therapy in these patients is poor. This article discusses the clinical and genetic characteristics of this relatively recently recognised disease.
The reliability of chest radiographs in predicting left atrial enlargement

Introduction Estimates of left atrial size in patients with suspected cardiac disease play an important role in predicting prognosis and events, as well as treatment decisions. Two methods are commonly used to estimate left atrial size: chest radiography and cardiac ultrasound. This study aims to determine the test characteristics by comparing the use of radiographs to cardiac ultrasound (the gold-standard test). Methods Data from patients older than 18 years admitted to Steve Biko Academic Hospital during 2000–2003 who had both chest radiographs and cardiac ultrasound were included in this cross-sectional, retrospective analysis. Chest radiographs were classified into three quality classes, and the sub-carinal angle (SCA) and sub-angle distance (SAD) were measured twice in all available radiographs by two observers. Intra- and inter-observer variability (three methods) as well as the predictive value of the carinal angle and sub-angle distance measurements were determined using logistic regression (with left atrial enlargement – determined by ultrasound as comparator). Results Data for 159 patients were available (154 cardiac ultrasounds and 178 chest radiographs). Intra-observer variability for chest radiograph measurements was low with almost perfect concordance (p = 0.000). Inter-observer variability was higher for supine radiographs. Using logistic regression, a linear model was identified which was statistically significant only for erect radiographs. While goodness-of-fit analysis showed that the model fits the data, performance characteristics were poor, with high sensitivity and low specificity, and an area under the ROC curve of 0.62–0.63, depending on type of radiograph and measurement (SCA or SAD). Linearity in the logit of the dependent variable was assessed, and found to be present at the extremes of SCA measurements for the supine radiograph data and in the first three quartiles for erect radiograph data. A non-linear model determined by fractional polynomial analysis did not perform significantly better than the original linear model. Cut-off values for the SCA of 72° and 84° (erect and supine radiographs, respectively) were found to give the best compromise between sensitivity and specificity. The corresponding cut-off values for SAD were 24.1 and 26.9 mm. Conclusion Assessment of either SCA or SAD to determine left atrial size was equivalent and repeatable, both with the same observer and between two observers (less so for supine radiographs). While this measure was precise, it was found not to be very accurate. Therefore, chest radiographs are not reliable in predicting left atrial enlargement.