Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Csk differentially regulates Src64 during distinct morphological events in Drosophila germ cells

The Src family protein tyrosine kinases (SFKs) are crucial regulators of cellular morphology. In Drosophila, Src64 controls complex morphological events that occur during oogenesis. Recent studies have identified key Src64-dependent mechanisms that regulate actin cytoskeletal dynamics during the growth of actin-rich ring canals, which act as intercellular bridges between germ cells. By contrast, the molecular mechanisms that regulate Src64 activity levels and potential roles for Src64 in additional morphological events in the ovary have not been defined. In this report, we demonstrate that regulation of Src64 by Drosophila C-terminal-Src Kinase (Csk) contributes to the packaging of germline cysts by overlying somatic follicle cells during egg chamber formation. These results uncover novel roles for both Csk and Src64 in a dynamic event that involves adhesion, communication between cell types and control of cell motility. Strikingly, Src64 and Csk function in the germline to control packaging, not in migrating follicle cells, suggesting novel functions for this signaling cassette in regulating dynamic adhesion. In contrast to the role played by Csk in the regulation of Src64 activity during packaging, Csk is dispensable for ring canal growth control, indicating that distinct mechanisms control Src64 activity during different morphological events.
Analysis of Urban Expansion Process Based on GIS and RS in Suihua

The earth observation technology of remote sensing can offer rich variable data of urban expansion and becomes the main approach to monitor urban expansion.To obtain the characteristics of urban expansion process of Suihua city,we extracted urban land information base in five periods remote sensing images (1976,1990,2001,2006 and 2009) using GIS technology,with the help of expansion intensity model,spatial center of gravity transfer model, compact index,urban land fractal index and urban expansion elasticity coefficient we analyzed the area,direction and form feature of urban land expansion in Suihua city.The result shows that during the 33 years from 1976 to 2009,the urban land area of Suihua was continuously increased, in which the urban expansion scale and speed are the largest from 2001 to 2009,the urban expansion direction is mainly in the west and the south,the urban compactness index is reduced,and the form feature is complex.
Culture Matters: A Study on Presence in an Interactive Movie

A cross cultural study was conducted to test the influences of different cultural backgrounds on the user's presence experience in interacting with a distributed interactive movie. The effects of embodied interaction on presence were also investigated because embodiment is often used to enrich the experience and to reduce the complexity of distributed interaction. In absence of a clear definition of what cultural factors might influence presence, Dutch and Chinese participants were invited to the study to optimize cultural diversion. The results suggested that Chinese participants perceived more presence than Dutch participants in all conditions. The results also show that interaction methods (direct touch against remote control) had no influence, while embodiment (robot against screen agent) had mixed effects on presence.
Reducing the Effects of Electrocardiographic Artifacts on Electro-oculography in Automatic Sleep Analysis

Removal of electrocardiographic (ECG) artifacts of QRS complexes from a single channel electroencephalography (EEG) and electro-oculography (EOG) can be problematic especially when no reference ECG signal is available. This study examined a simple estimation method excluding the possible QRS part of the EOG trace before spectrum estimation. The method was tested using a simple sleep classifier based on 0.5-30 Hz mean frequency of single channel sleep EOG, with the left EOG electrode referenced to the left mastoid (EOG L-Ml). When QRS peaks were automatically excluded from the least square (LS) mean frequency estimation the average optimal mean frequency threshold decreased from 9.3 Hz to 8.8 Hz and agreement and Cohen's Kappa increased respectively from 89% to 90% and from 0.44 to 0.50 when compared to the traditional spectral estimation.
A pitch-based method for the estimation of short reverberation time

Reverberation corrupts harmonic structure in voiced speech. We observe that the pitch strength of voiced speech segments is indicative of the degree of reverberation. Consequently, we present an estimation method of reverberation time (T 60 ) based on pitch strength. The pitch strength is measured by deriving the statistics of relative time lags, defined as the distances from the detected pitch periods to the closest peaks in a correlogram. The monotonic relationship between the measured pitch strength and reverberation time learned from a corpus of reverberant speech with known reverberation times yields an estimate of T 60 up to 0.6 seconds.
A Supershear Transition Mechanism for Cracks

Seismic data indicate that fault ruptures follow complicated paths with variable velocity because of inhomogeneities in initial stress or fracture energy. We report a phenomenon unique to three-dimensional cracks: Locally stronger fault sections, rather than slowing ruptures, drive them forward at velocities exceeding the shear wave speed. This supershear mechanism differentiates barrier and asperity models of fault heterogeneity, which previously have been regarded as indistinguishable. High strength barriers concentrate energy, producing potentially destructive pulses of strong ground motion.
Vortex Cores of Inertial Particles

The cores of massless, swirling particle motion are an indicator for vortex-like behavior in vector fields and to this end, a number of coreline extractors have been proposed in the literature. Though, many practical applications go beyond the study of the vector field. Instead, engineers seek to understand the behavior of inertial particles moving therein, for instance in sediment transport, helicopter brownout and pulverized coal combustion. In this paper, we present two strategies for the extraction of the corelines that inertial particles swirl around, which depend on particle density, particle diameter, fluid viscosity and gravity. The first is to deduce the local swirling behavior from the autonomous inertial motion ODE, which eventually reduces to a parallel vectors operation. For the second strategy, we use a particle density estimation to locate inertial attractors. With this, we are able to extract the cores of swirling inertial particle motion for both steady and unsteady 3D vector fields. We demonstrate our techniques in a number of benchmark data sets, and elaborate on the relation to traditional massless corelines.
Is executive control used to compensate for involuntary movements in levodopa‐induced dyskinesia?

Levodopa (L-dopa)-induced dyskinesia (LID) emerge in the majority of PD patients after long-term L-dopa treatment. LID most often coincide with the maximal antiparkinsonian effect of L-dopa (‘‘peak dose or ondyskinesias’’) and are mainly choreiform in nature. Though the precise mechanism responsible for the development of LID is still unclear, the pathophysiology apparently involves a change in the firing patterns that signal between the basal ganglia and the cortex, leading to overactivation of motor frontal areas. Two recent neuroimaging studies published in this journal provide new information about the relationship between cortical function and LID. The first study used structural MRI to compare PD patients with and without LID. After a whole brain correction for multiple comparisons, there was increased gray-matter signal in the right and left inferior frontal gyrus (IFG) in LID versus no-LID groups. Further, in the LID group, those patients who were diagnosed with PD at a younger age had more gray-matter signal in the right IFG at the time of scanning (which fits the observation that LID is more likely to emerge in patients who are younger at the time of diagnosis). The investigators attributed these results to neuroplastic changes in prefrontal regions that receive basal ganglia outflow. However, they did not provide an explanation for the regionally specific result: Why the right IFG? The second study by the same group used functional MRI to compare PD patients with and without LID. Importantly, all patients were assessed in the off state (i.e., having abstained from medication for more than 12 hours). The study was a block design, with periods of internally or externally generated finger-tapping alternating with rest (i.e., no movement) periods. The LID group had increased task-related activity in the supplementary motor area and reduced activity in the right IFG, compared to the group without LID. However, it was notable that, in the LID group, there was ‘‘deactivation’’ of the right IFG (i.e., less activation for task than rest). Furthermore, for the supplementary motor area, LID patients with greater involuntary movement rating scores had greater activation, whereas for the right IFG, LID patients with greater involuntary movement rating scores had greater deactivation (i.e., even less activity for task versus baseline).
Quadruple-Junction Thin-Film Silicon Solar Cells Using Four Different Absorber Materials

We fabricated and studied quadruple-junction wide-gap a-Si:H/narrow-gap a-Si:H/a-SiGex:H/nc-Si:H thin-film silicon solar cells. It is among the first attempts in thin-film photovoltaics to make a two-terminal solar cell with four different absorber materials. Several tunnel recombination junctions were tested, and the n-SiOx:H/p-SiOx:H structure was proven to be a generic solution for the three pairs of neighboring subcells. The proposed combination of absorbers led to a more reasonable spectral utilization than the counterpart containing two nc-Si:H subcells. Besides, the use of high-mobility transparent conductive oxide and modulated surface texture significantly enhances the total light absorption in the absorber layers. This work paved the way toward high-efficiency quadruple-junction cells, and a practical estimation of the achievable efficiency was given.
Blood Pressure and Risks of Vascular Complications After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Evidence-based protocols are needed for care of the nearly 1,000,000 patients in the United States who undergo percutaneous coronary interventional procedures. This article describes a case-matched control study of 300 patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in which specific demographic, physician-sensitive, and nurse-sensitive factors were tested to determine their relative contribution to the incidence of vascular complications. Findings included that patients with a mean systolic blood pressure of 160 mm Hg or higher were 8 times more likely to have vascular complications (P < .001). Patients receiving heparin (with and without glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors) versus bivalirudin were 3 times more likely to have vascular complications (P = .008). Patients with hemostasis by AngioSeal and those with a history of hypertension were 77% (P =.031) and 61% (P = .005), respectively, less likely to have complications.
Evaluation and Characterization of Bacterial Metabolic Dynamics with a Novel Profiling Technique, Real-Time Metabolotyping

Background Environmental processes in ecosystems are dynamically altered by several metabolic responses in microorganisms, including intracellular sensing and pumping, battle for survival, and supply of or competition for nutrients. Notably, intestinal bacteria maintain homeostatic balance in mammals via multiple dynamic biochemical reactions to produce several metabolites from undigested food, and those metabolites exert various effects on mammalian cells in a time-dependent manner. We have established a method for the analysis of bacterial metabolic dynamics in real time and used it in combination with statistical NMR procedures. Methodology/Principal Findings We developed a novel method called real-time metabolotyping (RT-MT), which performs sequential 1H-NMR profiling and two-dimensional (2D) 1H, 13C-HSQC (heteronuclear single quantum coherence) profiling during bacterial growth in an NMR tube. The profiles were evaluated with such statistical methods as Z-score analysis, principal components analysis, and time series of statistical TOtal Correlation SpectroScopY (TOCSY). In addition, using 2D 1H, 13C-HSQC with the stable isotope labeling technique, we observed the metabolic kinetics of specific biochemical reactions based on time-dependent 2D kinetic profiles. Using these methods, we clarified the pathway for linolenic acid hydrogenation by a gastrointestinal bacterium, Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens. We identified trans11, cis13 conjugated linoleic acid as the intermediate of linolenic acid hydrogenation by B. fibrisolvens, based on the results of 13C-labeling RT-MT experiments. In addition, we showed that the biohydrogenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids serves as a defense mechanism against their toxic effects. Conclusions RT-MT is useful for the characterization of beneficial bacterium that shows potential for use as probiotic by producing bioactive compounds.
Maternal scaffolding and preterm toddlers' visual-spatial processing and emerging working memory.

OBJECTIVE We examined longitudinal associations among neonatal and socioeconomic risks, maternal scaffolding behaviors, and 24-month visual-spatial processing and working memory in a sample of 73 toddlers born preterm or low birthweight (PT LBW). METHODS Risk data were collected at hospital discharge and dyadic play interactions were observed at 16-months postterm. Abbreviated IQ scores, verbal/nonverbal working memory, and verbal/nonverbal visual-spatial processing data were collected at 24-months postterm. RESULTS Higher attention scaffolding and lower emotion scaffolding during 16-month play were associated with 24-month verbal working memory scores. A joint significance test revealed that maternal attention and emotion scaffolding during 16-month play mediated the relationship between socioeconomic risk and 24-month verbal working memory. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest areas for future research and intervention with children born PT LBW who also experience high socioeconomic risk.
Risk factors for dental caries in childhood: a five-year survival analysis.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to examine the risk factors of dental caries at the level of an individual person with survival analysis of the prospective data for 5 years. METHODS A total of 249 first-grade students participated in a follow-up study for 5 years. All participants responded to a questionnaire inquiring about socio-demographic variables and oral health behaviors. They also received an oral examination and were tested for Dentocult SM and LB. Over 5 years, the participants received yearly oral follow-up examinations to determine the incidence of dental caries. The incidence of one or more dental caries (DC1) and four or more dental caries (DC4) were defined as one or more and four or more decayed, missing, and filled permanent teeth increments, respectively. Socio-demographic variables, oral health behaviors, and status and caries activity tests were assessed as risk factors for DC1 and DC4. The adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of risk factors for DC1 and DC4 were calculated using Cox proportional hazard regression models. RESULTS During the 5-year follow-up period, DC1 and DC4 occurred in 87 and 25 participants, respectively. In multivariate hazard models, five or more decayed, missing, and filled primary molar teeth [HR 1.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19-3.13], and Dentocult LB of two or three (HR 2.21, 95% CI 1.37-3.56) were independent risk factors of DC1. For DC4, only Dentocult LB of two or three was an independent risk factor (HR 2.95, 95% CI 1.11-7.79). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that dental caries incidence at an individual level can be associated with the experience of dental caries in primary teeth and Dentocult LB based on the survival models for the 5-year prospective data.
Antirandom Testing: Beyond Random Testing

Random testing is a well known concept that requires that each test is selected randomly regardless of the test previously applied. In actual practice it takes the form of pseudo-random testing, where each test pattern is a shifted version of the previous one with one new bit added. This paper introduces the concept of antirandom testing. In this testing strategy each test applied is chosen such that its total distance from all previous tests is maximum. This spans the test vector space to the maximum extent possible for a given number of vectors. This strategy results in a higher fault coverage when the number of vectors that are applied is limited. Algorithm for generating antirandom tests is presented. A Reed-Solomon code based test set is also introduced that results in test vectors with antirandom characteristics. Results comparing the different test strategies on ISCAS benchmarks show these strategies to be very effective when a high fault coverage needs to be achieved with a limited number of test vectors. The superiority of the antirandom testing approach is even more significant for testing bridging faults.
Aerial audiograms of several California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) measured using single and multiple simultaneous auditory steady-state response methods

SUMMARY Measurements of the electrophysiological auditory steady-state response (ASSR) have proven to be efficient for evaluating hearing sensitivity in odontocete cetaceans. In an effort to expand these methods to pinnipeds, ASSRs elicited by single and multiple simultaneous tones were used to measure aerial hearing thresholds in several California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) and Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus). There were no significant differences between thresholds measured using the single and multiple ASSR methods, despite the more rapid nature of data collection using the multiple ASSR method. There was a high degree of variability in ASSR thresholds among subjects; thresholds covered a range of ∼40 dB at each tested frequency. As expected, ASSR thresholds were elevated relative to previously reported psychophysical thresholds for California and Steller sea lions. The features of high-frequency hearing limit and relative sensitivity of most ASSR audiograms were, however, similar to those of psychophysical audiograms, suggesting that ASSR methods can be used to improve understanding of hearing demographics in sea lions, especially with respect to high-frequency hearing. Thresholds for one Steller sea lion were substantially elevated relative to all other subjects, demonstrating that ASSR methods can be used to detect hearing loss in sea lions.
Genetic and Expression Analysis of MET, MACC1, and HGF in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Response to Met Inhibition in Patient Xenografts and Pathologic Correlations

Purpose: We determined the gene copy numbers for MET, for its transcriptional activator MACC1 and for its ligand hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma (mCRC). We correlated copy numbers with mRNA levels and explored whether gain and/or overexpression of MET and MACC1 predict response to anti-Met therapies. Finally, we assessed whether their genomic or transcriptional deregulation correlates with pathologic and molecular parameters of aggressive disease. Experimental Design: One hundred three mCRCs were analyzed. Copy numbers and mRNA were determined by quantitative PCR (qPCR). Thirty nine samples were implanted and expanded in NOD (nonobese diabetic)/SCID (severe combined immunodeficient) mice to generate cohorts that were treated with the Met inhibitor JNJ-38877605. In silico analysis of MACC1 targets relied on genome-wide mapping of promoter regions and on expression data from two CRC datasets. Results: No focal, high-grade amplifications of MET, MACC1, or HGF were detected. Chromosome 7 polysomy and gain of the p-arm were observed in 21% and 8% of cases, respectively, and significantly correlated with higher expression of both Met and MACC1. Met inhibition in patient-derived xenografts did not modify tumor growth. Copy number gain and overexpression of MACC1 correlated with unfavorable pathologic features better than overexpression of Met. Bioinformatic analysis of putative MACC1 targets identified elements besides Met, whose overexpression cosegregated with aggressive forms of colorectal cancer. Conclusions: Experiments in patient-derived xenografts suggest that mCRCs do not rely on Met genomic gain and/or overexpression for growth. On the basis of pathologic correlations and bioinformatic analysis, MACC1 could contribute to CRC progression through mechanisms other than or additional to Met transcriptional upregulation. Clin Cancer Res; 17(10); 3146–56. ©2011 AACR.
Calcium and phosphate homeostasis: Concerted interplay of new regulators

Calcium (Ca2+) and phosphate (Pi) are essential to many vital physiological processes. Consequently the maintenance of Ca2+ and Pi homeostasis is essential to a healthy existence. This occurs through the concerted action of intestinal, renal, and skeletal regulatory mechanisms. Ca2+ and Pi handling by these organs is under tight hormonal control. Disturbances in their homeostasis have been linked to pathophysiological disorders including chronic renal insufficiency, kidney stone formation, and bone abnormalities. Importantly, the kidneys fine‐tune the amount of Ca2+ and Pi retained in the body by altering their (re)absorption from the glomerular filtrate. The ion transport proteins involved in this process have been studied extensively. Recently, new key players have been identified in the regulation of the Ca2+ and Pi balance. Novel regulatory mechanisms and their implications were introduced for the antiaging hormone klotho and fibroblast growth factor member 23 (FGF23). Importantly, transgenic mouse models, exhibiting disturbances in Ca2+ and Pi balance, have been of great value in the elucidation of klotho and FGF23 functioning. This review highlights the current knowledge and ongoing research into Ca2+ and Pi homeostasis, emphasizing findings from several relevant knockout mouse models.
Experimental Study on Electrical Conductivity of FexO-CaO-SiO2-Al2O3 System at Various Oxygen Potentials

Abstract The electrical conductivity of FexO-CaO-SiO2-Al2O3 slags was measured by a four terminal method. The results show that the temperature dependences of total, electronic and ionic conductivity for different compositions obey the Arrhenius law and all of them increase as increasing the temperature. For all the studied slags, as increasing CO/CO2 ratio which is used to controlled the oxygen potential, both the total electrical conductivity and electronic conductivity increase, but the ionic conductivity decreases. It was also found that the electronic transference number exhibits a strong correlation with oxygen potential, but is independent of temperature. Under the condition of constant FexO content, the higher the basicity of slags is, the higher the total electrical conductivity and ionic/electronic conductivity will be, which is resulted from the increase of free oxygen ion.