Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sporadic intra-abdominal desmoid tumor: a unusual presentation

Desmoid tumors are rare potentially aggressive benign tumors. Various etiologies and recurrent factors have been presented and discussed. A case of an abdominal desmoid tumor with vascular mesenteric invasion in a 32-year-old female, over 2 years after pregnancy is presented. Pre-operative biopsy was not contributive, diagnosis was made after surgery. Resection required two vascular bypasses. Desmoid tumors appear frequently in women of child-bearing age (during or after pregnancy), hormonal signaling is probably involved, but pathways remain unknown. Multiple predictive factors of recurrence are discussed but not strongly identified due to underpowered studies: resection margins, age, sex, tumor’s size and location. Recent development is in favor of a non-aggressive treatment such as ‘wait and see’ procedures. Without radical treatment, these tumors could generate bowel compression or perforation. Due to their location and high risk of complication, surgery is the most fitted option.
Loperamide, an FDA-Approved Antidiarrhea Drug, Effectively Reverses the Resistance of Multidrug Resistant MCF-7/MDR1 Human Breast Cancer Cells to Doxorubicin-Induced Cytotoxicity

Loperamide is an FDA-approved antidiarrhea drug which acts on the μ-opioid receptors in the mesenteric plexus of large intestine and exhibits limited side effects. We hypothesized that loperamide might reverse the multidrug resistance (MDR) of human cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents. MCF-7/MDR1 cells express high level of MDR1 and are resistant to doxorubicin. We found that loperamide significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin to MCF-7/MDR1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, loperamide reversed the resistance of MCF-7/MDR1 cells to doxorubicin, suggesting that chemotherapy in combination with loperamide may benefit patients with MDR tumors once applied in clinic.
RNA-binding proteins involved in post-transcriptional regulation in bacteria

Post-transcriptional regulation is a very important mechanism to control gene expression in changing environments. In the past decade, a lot of interest has been directed toward the role of small RNAs (sRNAs) in bacterial post-transcriptional regulation. However, sRNAs are not the only molecules controlling gene expression at this level, RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) play an important role as well. CsrA and Hfq are the two best studied bacterial proteins of this type, but recently, additional proteins involved in post-transcriptional control have been identified. This review focuses on the general working mechanisms of post-transcriptionally active RBPs, which include (i) adaptation of the susceptibility of mRNAs and sRNAs to RNases, (ii) modulating the accessibility of the ribosome binding site of mRNAs, (iii) recruiting and assisting in the interaction of mRNAs with other molecules and (iv) regulating transcription terminator/antiterminator formation, and gives an overview of both the well-studied and the newly identified proteins that are involved in post-transcriptional regulatory processes. Additionally, the post-transcriptional mechanisms by which the expression or the activity of these proteins is regulated, are described. For many of the newly identified proteins, however, mechanistic questions remain. Most likely, more post-transcriptionally active proteins will be identified in the future.
Responses of Prairie Arthropod Communities to Fire and Fertilizer: Balancing Plant and Arthropod Conservation

ABSTRACT Fire is an important tool for limiting woody plant invasions into prairies, but using fire management to maintain grassland plant communities may inadvertently reduce arthropod diversity. To test this, we established twenty-four 100 m2 plots in a tallgrass prairie in Galveston County, Texas, in spring 2000. Plots were assigned a fire (no burn, one time burn [2000], two time burn [2000, 2001]) and fertilization treatment (none, NPK addition) in a full factorial design. Fertilization treatments allowed us to examine the effects of fire at a different level of productivity. We measured plant cover by species and sampled arthropods with sweep nets during the 2001 growing season. Path analysis indicated that fertilization reduced while annual fires increased arthropod diversity via increases and decreases in woody plant abundance, respectively. There was no direct effect of fire on arthropod diversity or abundance. Diptera and Homoptera exhibited particularly strong positive responses to fires. Lepidoptera had a negative response to nutrient enrichment. Overall, the negative effects of fire on the arthropod community were minor in contrast to the strong positive indirect effects of small-scale burning on arthropod diversity if conservation of particular taxa is not a priority. The same fire regime that minimized woody plant invasion also maximized arthropod diversity.
Essential role for calcium waves in migration of human vascular smooth muscle cells

Vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) exhibit diversity in phenotypes, and have the capacity to convert from a contractile to a synthetic phenotype in response to injury or remodeling. Cells with a synthetic phenotype have the ability to migrate. SMC migration is initiated at the leading edge of cells with lamellipodial extension and attachment to substrate, coupled with release of the rear (uropod) of the cell, enabling forward movement. However, little is known regarding the role of cytosolic Ca2+ in coordinating the disparate activities of migrating SMCs. Our aim was to investigate regional changes of Ca2+ in human vascular SMC using digital fluorescence microscopy of fura‐2 loaded cells. SMCs exhibited spontaneous Ca2+ waves, and stimulation with PDGF caused transient global rise of [Ca2+]. Ca2+ waves characteristically swept from the rear of polarized cells towards the leading edge. To investigate the role of Ca2+ waves in initiating retraction, we loaded cells with the Ca2+ chelator BAPTA, which abolished Ca2+ waves and cell migration. In contrast, BAPTA loading caused negligible change in lamellipod motility. Treatment of cells with the Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine did not noticeably alter cell motility. These results identify a novel mechanism by which SMC migration occurs, whereby release of the uropod is initiated by regional changes of cytosolic Ca2+ and waves.
Integration Environment of Test Bed for C2 Organization

This paper provides three major contributions. First, motivated by the need for a network of intelligent agents within C2 experimental settings, a brief overview of modeling techniques for the design of a network of C2 role agents and integration environment of test bed for C2 organization are provided. Second, techniques for modeling the decision-making processes of C2 role agents in task selection and resource allocation settings are presented. Third, the congruence model of organizational behavior is advanced, which is based on the degree to which different components of the organization fit together. And also quantify the performance of an organization based on this model.
International Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences and Technology Bi-level Multi-objective Linear Programming under Intuitionistic Fuzzy Environment

In this paper, bi-level linear programming problem with multiple objectives at each level in intuitionistic fuzzy environment is studied and solved. In this problem, technological coefficients and resources are characterized by intuitionistic fuzzy numbers having linear membership and non-membership function. Intuitionistic fuzzy efficient solution is computed for the upper level by the proposed model. Finally, intuitionistic fuzzy optimization technique is used to obtain the satisfying solution of the given problem. An illustrative numerical example is solved to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach.
Mycobacterium marinum Lipooligosaccharides Are Unique Caryophyllose-containing Cell Wall Glycolipids That Inhibit Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Secretion in Macrophages*

Earlier studies have reported a role for lipooligosaccharides (LOSs) in sliding motility, biofilm formation, and infection of host macrophages in Mycobacterium marinum. Although a LOS biosynthetic gene cluster has recently been identified in this species, many structural features of the different LOSs (LOS-I–IV) are still unknown. This clearly hampers assessing the contribution of each LOS in mycobacterial virulence as well as structure-function-based studies of these important cell wall-associated glycolipids. In this study, we have identified an M. marinum isolate, M. marinum 7 (Mma7), which failed to produce LOS-IV but instead accumulated large amounts of LOS-III. Local genomic comparison of the LOS biosynthetic cluster established the presence of a highly disorganized region in Mma7 compared with the standard M strain, characterized by multiple genetic lesions that are likely to be responsible for the defect in LOS-IV production in Mma7. Our results indicate that the glycosyltransferase LosA alone is not sufficient to ensure LOS-IV biosynthesis. The availability of different M. marinum strains allowed us to determine the precise structure of individual LOSs through the combination of mass spectrometric and NMR techniques. In particular, we established the presence of two related 4-C-branched monosaccharides within LOS-II to IV sequences, of which one was never identified before. In addition, we provided evidence that LOSs are capable of inhibiting the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human macrophages. This unexpected finding suggests that these cell wall-associated glycolipids represent key effectors capable of interfering with the establishment of a pro-inflammatory response.
The Inner Eye and the Inner Scribe of Visuo-spatial Working Memory: Evidence from Developmental Fractionation

An experiment is reported which explored the possible dissociation between visual and spatial working memory in children. Children aged 5–6, 8–9 and 11–12 years were given a recognition memory test for visual patterns or for sequences of movements to targets. Memory for patterns was better than memory for movement sequences and this difference was largest in the eldest group, and larger in the middle group than in the younger group. In a contrasting condition, the same groups of children were tested using immediate recall rather than recognition. A similar advantage for visual pattern memory over movement sequence memory appeared, and again this difference became more prominent with the age of the children. The results are interpreted as supporting the fractionation of visuo-spatial working memory into a temporary visual cache for storing visual form and an inner scribe for temporary retention of spatial information.
SIMPLEX METHODS MEETING THE CONJECTURED HIRSCH

In 1957, Hirsch conjectured that every d−polytopes with n facets has edge-diameter at most n − d. Recently Holt and Klee constructed polytopes which meet this bound for a number of (d, n) pairs with d ≤ 13 and for all pairs (14, n). The main purpose of this paper is to present linear Hirsch bound ⌊ 2 ⌋+ d− 2 for all pairs (d, n) and to review mathematical ideas behind simplex methods, investigating the duality formation implying in them.
Common-sense beliefs, recognition and the identification of familiar and unfamiliar speakers from verbal and non-linguistic vocalizations

Listeners first listened to tape-recorded speech samples of words and non-linguistic vocalizations to decide whether each came from a familiar or an unfamiliar speaker. If a vocalization was judged as being uttered by a familiar speaker, listeners were asked to identify, if possible, the individual by name. Listeners were instructed not to guess. Confidence-accuracy scores in judgements and identification also were assessed. A separate group of participants attempted to predict the accuracy of performance of the listeners for each of the utterances made by the familiar and unfamiliar speakers. Tokens of some utterances, namely the words hello and help me and the sounds of laughter and clearing the throat, allowed equally good performance on the familiar/unfamiliar decision whether their source was a familiar or an unfamiliar speaker. For other vocalizations (moan, cough, grunt and sigh) listeners were better at detecting unfamiliar speakers than at recognizing familiar speakers. Those utterances judged to be made by familiar speakers led to correct identifications approximately 50 percent of the time on hearing the words hello and help me, and laughter. All other utterances led to less than 30 percent correct speaker identifications. For those unfamiliar speakers who were falsely recognized as familiar, listeners falsely identified by name between 22 and 30 percent of the vocalizations. Few of the confidence-accuracy relationships were significant. Laypersons’ common-sense beliefs for speaker identification were generally unrealistic.
Mother's educational level and fetal growth: the genesis of health inequalities.

BACKGROUND Women of low socio-economic status (SES) give birth to lighter babies. It is unknown from which moment during pregnancy socio-economic differences in fetal weight can be observed, whether low SES equally affects different fetal-growth components, or what the effect of low SES is after taking into account mediating factors. METHODS In 3545 pregnant women participating in the Generation R Study, we studied the association of maternal educational level (high, mid-high, mid-low and low) as a measure of SES with fetal weight, head circumference, abdominal circumference and femur length. We did this before and after adjusting for potential mediators, including maternal height, pre-pregnancy body mass index and smoking. RESULTS In fetuses of low-educated women relative to those of high-educated women, fetal growth was slower, leading to a lower fetal weight that was observable from late pregnancy onwards. In these fetuses, growth of the head [-0.16 mm/week; 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.25 to -0.07; P = 0.0004], abdomen (-0.10 mm/week; 95% CI: -0.21 to 0.01; P = 0.08) and femur (-0.03 mm/week; 95% CI: -0.05 to -0.006; P = 0.01) were all slower; from mid-pregnancy onwards, head circumference was smaller, and from late pregnancy onwards, femur length was also smaller. The negative effect of low education was greatest for head circumference (difference in standard deviation score in late pregnancy: -0.26; 95% CI: -0.36 to -0.15; P < 0.0001). This effect persevered even after adjustment for the potential mediators (adjusted difference: -0.14; 95% CI: -0.25 to -0.03; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Low maternal education is associated with a slower fetal growth and this effect appears stronger for growth of the head than for other body parts.
Direct Comparisons of 2D and 3D Dental Microwear Proxies in Extant Herbivorous and Carnivorous Mammals

The analysis of dental microwear is commonly used by paleontologists and anthropologists to clarify the diets of extinct species, including herbivorous and carnivorous mammals. Currently, there are numerous methods employed to quantify dental microwear, varying in the types of microscopes used, magnifications, and the characterization of wear in both two dimensions and three dimensions. Results from dental microwear studies utilizing different methods are not directly comparable and human quantification of wear features (e.g., pits and scratches) introduces interobserver error, with higher error being produced by less experienced individuals. Dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA), which analyzes microwear features in three dimensions, alleviates some of the problems surrounding two-dimensional microwear methods by reducing observer bias. Here, we assess the accuracy and comparability within and between 2D and 3D dental microwear analyses in herbivorous and carnivorous mammals at the same magnification. Specifically, we compare observer-generated 2D microwear data from photosimulations of the identical scanned areas of DMTA in extant African bovids and carnivorans using a scanning white light confocal microscope at 100x magnification. Using this magnification, dental microwear features quantified in 2D were able to separate grazing and frugivorous bovids using scratch frequency; however, DMTA variables were better able to discriminate between disparate dietary niches in both carnivorous and herbivorous mammals. Further, results demonstrate significant interobserver differences in 2D microwear data, with the microwear index remaining the least variable between experienced observers, consistent with prior research. Overall, our results highlight the importance of reducing observer error and analyzing dental microwear in three dimensions in order to consistently interpret diets accurately.
Insect Leaf-Chewing Damage Tracks Herbivore Richness in Modern and Ancient Forests

The fossil record demonstrates that past climate changes and extinctions significantly affected the diversity of insect leaf-feeding damage, implying that the richness of damage types reflects that of the unsampled damage makers, and that the two are correlated through time. However, this relationship has not been quantified for living leaf-chewing insects, whose richness and mouthpart convergence have obscured their value for understanding past and present herbivore diversity. We hypothesized that the correlation of leaf-chewing damage types (DTs) and damage maker richness is directly observable in living forests. Using canopy access cranes at two lowland tropical rainforest sites in Panamá to survey 24 host-plant species, we found significant correlations between the numbers of leaf chewing insect species collected and the numbers of DTs observed to be made by the same species in feeding experiments, strongly supporting our hypothesis. Damage type richness was largely driven by insect species that make multiple DTs. Also, the rank-order abundances of DTs recorded at the Panamá sites and across a set of latest Cretaceous to middle Eocene fossil floras were highly correlated, indicating remarkable consistency of feeding-mode distributions through time. Most fossil and modern host-plant pairs displayed high similarity indices for their leaf-chewing DTs, but informative differences and trends in fossil damage composition became apparent when endophytic damage was included. Our results greatly expand the potential of insect-mediated leaf damage for interpreting insect herbivore richness and compositional heterogeneity from fossil floras and, equally promisingly, in living forests.
Stream weight estimation using higher order statistics in multi-modal speech recognition

In this paper, stream weight optimization for multi-modal speech recognition using audio information and visual information is examined. In a conventional multi-stream Hidden Markov Model (HMM) used in multi-modal speech recognition, a constraint in which the summation of audio and visual weight factors should be one is employed. This means balance between transition and observation probabilities of HMM is fixed. We study an effective weight estimation indicator when releasing the constraint. Recognition experiments were conducted using an audio-visual corpus CENSREC-1-AV [1]. In noisy environments, effectiveness of deactivating the constraint is clarified for improving recognition accuracy. Subsequently higher-order statistical parameter (kurtosis) based stream weights were proposed and tested. Through recognition experiments, it is found proposed stream weights are successful.
Web Services Software Architecture

Web services have received widespread attention and acceptance in the software engineering community. Automatic composition of services, to meet user’s requirements, is a powerful mechanism to ensure satisfaction of varied needs and thus enable the vision of Web services. Although Web services are equipped with the fundamental concepts and supporting technologies, the architectural style of the composite service composed from Web services is fixed by the prescriptions of the Service Oriented Architecture, and does not provide the level of flexibility stipulated by alternative service-based approaches such as the Service-Based Software vision. To enable the composition of Web services using alternative architectural styles, the author proposes that software architecture be included as a parameter in the composition process. This is enabled by the use of the Alfa framework to model the desired architectural style, and the use of this information to support service discovery.
Serum Anti-Müllerian Hormone and Inhibin B Levels at Ovulation Triggering Day Can Predict the Number of Immature Oocytes Retrieved in In Vitro Fertilization Cycles

The aim of this study was to investigate whether serum levels of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B at ovulation triggering day correlate with the number of immature oocytes obtained from stimulated in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Fiftynine consecutive cycles of ovarian hyperstimulation and IVF were selected from 45 women who had tubal (n=18) or unexplained infertility (n=27) and obtained at least one oocyte. Serum levels of AMH and inhibin B at ovulation triggering day were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Univariate analysis and multiple regressions revealed that serum AMH or inhibin B levels were significantly correlated with immature oocyte count and the correlation coefficients were higher compared to the mature oocyte count. Serum AMH and inhibin B levels on triggering day seems to be more closely related with the immature oocyte count and thus could be good predictors to determine the immature oocyte count in IVF cycle.
Substrate recruitment of γ‐secretase and mechanism of clinical presenilin mutations revealed by photoaffinity mapping

Intramembrane proteases execute fundamental biological processes ranging from crucial signaling events to general membrane proteostasis. Despite the availability of structural information on these proteases, it remains unclear how these enzymes bind and recruit substrates, particularly for the Alzheimer's disease‐associated γ‐secretase. Systematically scanning amyloid precursor protein substrates containing a genetically inserted photocrosslinkable amino acid for binding to γ‐secretase allowed us to identify residues contacting the protease. These were primarily found in the transmembrane cleavage domain of the substrate and were also present in the extramembranous domains. The N‐terminal fragment of the catalytic subunit presenilin was determined as principal substrate‐binding site. Clinical presenilin mutations altered substrate binding in the active site region, implying a pathogenic mechanism for familial Alzheimer's disease. Remarkably, PEN‐2 was identified besides nicastrin as additional substrate‐binding subunit. Probing proteolysis of crosslinked substrates revealed a mechanistic model of how these subunits interact to mediate a stepwise transfer of bound substrate to the catalytic site. We propose that sequential binding steps might be common for intramembrane proteases to sample and select cognate substrates for catalysis.
Model of Coordination Flow in Remote Collaborative Interaction

We present an information-theoretic approach for modelling coordination in human-human interaction and measuring coordination flows in a remote collaborative tracking task. Building on Shannon's mutual information, coordination flow measures, for stochastic collaborative systems, how much influence, the environment has on the joint control of collaborating parties.We demonstrate the application of the approach on interactive human data recorded in a user study and reveal the amount of effort required for creating rigorous models. Our initial results suggest the potential coordination flow has as an objective, task-independent measure for supporting designers of human collaborative systems and for providing better theoretical foundations for the science of Human- Computer Interaction.