Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Kindling the flame of integrin activation and function with kindlins

Purpose of reviewThere are three kindlin family members in vertebrates, which have high-sequence homology and a common organization signature with a C-terminal 4.1, ezrin, radixin, moesin (FERM) domain bisected by a pleckstrin-homology domain. Although the cell and tissue distributions of the three kindlins differ, there is a consistent and close interrelationship between kindlins and integrins, and alterations of kindlin expression affect integrin-dependent functions. However, in-vivo data on the functions of the kindlins and their mechanisms of action have been lacking. Recent findingsRecent studies have shown that deficiencies of each of the three kindlins result in profound and distinct phenotypes, ranging from skin and intestinal defects (kindlin-1), embryonic lethality due to cardiac developmental problems (kindlin-2), to marked abnormalities in platelet, leukocyte and erythrocyte function (kindlin-3). A human disease characterized by bleeding, frequent infections and osteopetrosis has now been attributed to mutations in the gene encoding for kindlin-3. These defects are consistent with recent data showing that kindlins control integrin activation and function. SummaryThe three members of the kindlin family have now been implicated as essential regulators of integrin function in individual cells and in whole organisms.
Gaussian Process Planning with Lipschitz Continuous Reward Functions: Towards Unifying Bayesian Optimization, Active Learning, and Beyond

This paper presents a novel nonmyopic adaptive Gaussian process planning (GPP) framework endowed with a general class of Lipschitz continuous reward functions that can unify some active learning/sensing and Bayesian optimization criteria and offer practitioners some flexibility to specify their desired choices for defining new tasks/problems. In particular, it utilizes a principled Bayesian sequential decision problem framework for jointly and naturally optimizing the exploration-exploitation trade-off. In general, the resulting induced GPP policy cannot be derived exactly due to an uncountable set of candidate observations. A key contribution of our work here thus lies in exploiting the Lipschitz continuity of the reward functions to solve for a nonmyopic adaptive epsilon-optimal GPP (epsilon-GPP) policy. To plan in real time, we further propose an asymptotically optimal, branch-and-bound anytime variant of epsilon-GPP with performance guarantee. We empirically demonstrate the effectiveness of our epsilon-GPP policy and its anytime variant in Bayesian optimization and an energy harvesting task.
Probabilistic algorithmic knowledge

The framework of algorithmic knowledge assumes that agents use deterministic knowledge algorithms to compute the facts they explicitly know. We extend the framework to allow for randomized knowledge algorithms. We then characterize the information provided by a randomized knowledge algorithm when its answers have some probability of being incorrect. We formalize this information in terms of evidence; a randomized knowledge algorithm returning "Yes" to a query about a fact ϕ provides evidence for ϕ being true. Finally, we discuss the extent to which this evidence can be used as a basis for decisions.
Simulating 3D deformation using connected polygons

In modern 3D application, interaction between user and the virtual world is one of an important factor to increase the realism. This interaction can be visualized in many forms; one of them is object deformation. There are many ways to simulate object deformation in virtual 3D world; each comes with different level of realism and performance. Our objective is to present a new method to simulate object deformation by using a graph-connected polygon. In this solution, each object contains multiple level of polygons in different level of volume. The proposed solution focusses on performance rather while maintaining the acceptable level of realism. In this paper, we present the design and implementation of our solution and show that this solution is usable in performance sensitive 3D application such as games and virtual reality.
The impact of gender on outcome from mechanical ventilation.

OBJECTIVE To determine the relation of gender to outcome for patients requiring mechanical ventilation. DESIGN A prospective cohort study. SETTING Medical and surgical ICUs in two university-affiliated teaching hospitals. PATIENTS Three hundred fifty-seven patients requiring mechanical ventilation. INTERVENTIONS Prospective patient surveillance and data collection. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS The primary outcome measure was hospital mortality. Secondary outcome measures included need for reintubation, hospital and ICU length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, and hospital charges. The hospital mortality rate for women (n = 189) was significantly greater than the hospital mortality rate for men (n = 168) (28.0% vs 17.3%; p = 0.016). This difference in hospital mortality was observed despite similar baseline demographic characteristics, severity of illness, indications for mechanical ventilation, and number of dysfunctional organ systems in these two groups of patients. The duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay was also significantly longer for female patients compared with male patients (p < or = 0.056). In a logistic-regression analysis, female gender was found to be independently associated with hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.38; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.70 to 3.35; p = 0.010). The presence of ARDS (AOR = 10.69; 95% CI = 5.86 to 19.51; p < 0.001), the number of dysfunctional organ systems (AOR = 2.07; 95% CI = 1.78 to 2.41; p < 0.001), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II predicted mortality (AOR = 1.15; 95% CI = 1.11 to 1.19; p < 0.001), and patient age (AOR = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.03 to 1.06; p < 0.001) were also found to be independently associated with hospital mortality. The number of dysfunctional organ systems present at the start of mechanical ventilation was the major independent predictor of hospital mortality (54% of total explanatory power). Patient gender was the least important independent predictor of hospital mortality (5% of total explanatory power). CONCLUSIONS In this patient cohort, women requiring mechanical ventilation were at greater risk for hospital mortality than men. Physicians should be aware that outcome differences according to gender can occur when evaluating or designing clinical trials involving mechanically ventilated patients. Future studies are necessary to determine the general applicability of these findings and to identify explanations for such observed gender-specific differences in outcome.
Estimated prevalence of cardiovascular disease and distribution of cardiovascular risk in New Zealanders: data for healthcare planners, funders, and providers.

AIMS New Zealand cardiovascular risk management guidelines advocate targeted risk assessment based primarily on age, gender, and ethnicity--and recommend drug management for people with a 5-year absolute cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk greater than 15%. To inform service planning and healthcare delivery for district health boards and primary healthcare organisations in New Zealand, we have produced population estimates of CVD prevalence and 5-year absolute CVD risk. METHODS The 1993 Auckland Heart and Health Study provided the data for estimating CVD prevalence and absolute CVD risk distributions using the Framingham CVD risk prediction equation. These estimates were applied to population projections for 2005 based on 2001 New Zealand Census data. RESULTS Of the projected 2.09 million people aged over 35 years in New Zealand in 2005, approximately 1.5 million (72%) meet national criteria for formal CVD risk assessment. About 151,000 (7%) are estimated to have suffered a non-fatal heart attack or stroke or have angina. A further 262,000 (13%) are estimated to have a 5-year CVD risk greater than 15% based on New Zealand CVD risk charts. This represents around 1 in 5 adults over the age of 35 years in New Zealand for whom pharmacological interventions are recommended according to the New Zealand CVD risk guidelines for the prevention of new or further CVD events. CONCLUSIONS The latest published data available on the burden of CVD risk in New Zealand is now over 10 years old and does not include Maori, Pacific, and other non-European ethnic groups. Current data on the risk profile of adult New Zealanders is required for more accurate service planning. However the information reported here provides a reasonable estimate of the magnitude of the task. Although systematic identification and management of CVD risk in New Zealanders with raised CVD risk will be a major undertaking for healthcare services, it has the potential to produce significant health-gains while reducing health disparities.
Ventilatory mechanics in patients with bronchiectasis starting in childhood

Landau, L. I. , Phelan, P. D. , and Williams, H. E. (1974). Thorax, 29, 304-312. Ventilatory mechanics in patients with bronchiectasis starting in childhood. The mechanics of ventilation have been studied in 69 children and young adults with bronchiectasis since childhood. Many were well with little disability and although symptoms had ameliorated in the second decade cough and sputum still persisted. This study suggests that many patients had generalized small airway disease, as demonstrated by abnormal maximum expiratory flow volume curves together with increased lung volumes and frequency dependence of dynamic compliance. A group of patients was found in whom compliant airways in the bronchiectatic segment may have been contributing to `slow space' emptying and air trapping. Postoperative function in those treated surgically related to the extent of persisting disease rather than to the resection itself. In the absence of persisting disease there were no significant changes in lung volumes or elastic recoil after resection of one or two lobes in childhood.
Pleckstrin Homology (PH) Domain Leucine-rich Repeat Protein Phosphatase Controls Cell Polarity by Negatively Regulating the Activity of Atypical Protein Kinase C*

The proper establishment of epithelial polarity allows cells to sense and respond to signals that arise from the microenvironment in a spatiotemporally controlled manner. Atypical PKCs (aPKCs) are implicated as key regulators of epithelial polarity. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the negative regulation of aPKCs remains largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that PH domain leucine-rich repeat protein phosphatase (PHLPP), a novel family of Ser/Thr protein phosphatases, plays an important role in regulating epithelial polarity by controlling the phosphorylation of both aPKC isoforms. Altered expression of PHLPP1 or PHLPP2 disrupted polarization of Caco2 cells grown in 3D cell cultures as indicated by the formation of aberrant multi-lumen structures. Overexpression of PHLPP resulted in a decrease in aPKC phosphorylation at both the activation loop and the turn motif sites; conversely, knockdown of PHLPP increased aPKC phosphorylation. Moreover, in vitro dephosphorylation experiments revealed that both aPKC isoforms were substrates of PHLPP. Interestingly, knockdown of PKCζ, but not PKCι, led to similar disruption of the polarized lumen structure, suggesting that PKCζ likely controls the polarization process of Caco2 cells. Furthermore, knockdown of PHLPP altered the apical membrane localization of aPKCs and reduced the formation of aPKC-Par3 complex. Taken together, our results identify a novel role of PHLPP in regulating aPKC and cell polarity.
A scalable architecture for peer privacy on the Web

We consider the privacy implications of exchangingWeb data and present the design of a peer-to-peer discovery mechanism with strong privacy guarantees. Its bene ts are that it does not rely on a trusted third party, spreads the computational cost among participants and places minimal restrictions on privacy policies. Furthermore, it provides scalability both in terms of system size and level of privacy o ered. We outline an implementation that relies on two overlays: a distributed hash table for discovery and an anonymising overlay. Finally, we evaluate the proposed mechanism against a number of privacy threats and analyse its
Comparison of continuous-density and semi-continuous HMM in isolated words recognition systems

Several types of Semi-Continuous HMM (SC-HMM) have been compared with the Continuous Density HMM (CD-HMM) in the context of Speaker Independent Isolated Words Recognition (SI-IWR). It is demonstrated that for the ten-digit vocabulary (TIDIGITS), the SC-HMM outperforms the CD-HMM when memory constraints are imposed on the system. SC-HMMs demonstrate recognition rate of about 95% with a total of 59 Gaussians, while under similar conditions the CD-HMM yield recognition rates of well below 80%. An algorithm for optimal selection of Gaussian functions for SC-HMM is presented.
A flexible and efficient presentation-architecture for adaptive hypermedia: description and technical evaluation

Means of achieving personalization in the Web are adaptive hypermedia techniques and the flexible composition of learning content from individual learning objects. If the objects are represented in a format different from the presentation format (e.g. as XML as opposed to HTML), a potentially expensive transformation process is required. Furthermore, caching becomes impractical depending on the degree of personalization, as the dynamic information is available at presentation time only and varies for each user. In this paper we present a flexible and efficient presentation pipeline based on a model-view-controller architecture, which overcomes performance problems and couples caching and personalization. It transforms single learning objects and uses a view-layer for adaptive presentation and navigation support that provides additional advantages such as incremental rendering and the easy adaption to different layout styles. Both theoretical and simulation results prove the efficiency of this architecture.
Neuron-specific regulation of class I PI3K catalytic subunits and their dysfunction in brain disorders

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) complex plays important roles in virtually all cells of the body. The enzymatic activity of PI3K to phosphorylate phosphoinositides in the membrane is mediated by a group of catalytic and regulatory subunits. Among those, the class I catalytic subunits, p110α, p110β, p110γ, and p110δ, have recently drawn attention in the neuroscience field due to their specific dysregulation in diverse brain disorders. While in non-neuronal cells these catalytic subunits may have partially redundant functions, there is increasing evidence that in neurons their roles are more specialized, and confined to distinct receptor-dependent pathways. This review will summarize the emerging role of class I PI3K catalytic subunits in neurotransmitter-regulated neuronal signaling, and their dysfunction in a variety of neurological diseases, including fragile X syndrome, schizophrenia, and epilepsy. We will discuss recent literature describing the use of PI3K subunit-selective inhibitors to rescue brain disease-associated phenotypes in in vitro and animal models. These studies give rise to the exciting prospect that these drugs, originally designed for cancer treatment, may be repurposed as therapeutic drugs for brain disorders in the future.
Basic Opioid Pharmacology

• Opioids can be classified according to their mode of synthesis into alkaloids, semi-synthetic and synthetic compounds. • There are three classical receptors (DOP, KOP and MOP). The novel NOP receptor is considered to be a non-opioid branch of the opioid receptor family. • Opioids can either act as agonists, antagonists or partial agonists at these receptors. • Opioid agonists bind to G-protein coupled receptors to cause cellular hyperpolarisation. • MOP receptor agonists act in the central and peripheral nervous system to elicit analgesia.
Resource analyses for parallel and distributed coordination

Predicting the resources that are consumed by a program component is crucial for many parallel or distributed systems. In this context, the main resources of interest are execution time, space and communication/synchronisation costs. There has recently been significant progress in resource analysis technology, notably in type‐based analyses and abstract interpretation. At the same time, parallel and distributed computing are becoming increasingly important.
Contact-Aware Data Replication in Roadside Unit Aided Vehicular Delay Tolerant Networks

Roadside units (RSUs), which enable vehicles-to-infrastructure communications, are deployed along roadsides to handle the ever-growing communication demands caused by explosive increase of vehicular traffics. How to efficiently utilize them to enhance the vehicular delay tolerant network (VDTN) performance are the important problems in designing RSU-aided VDTNs. In this work, we implement an extensive experiment involving tens of thousands of operational vehicles in Beijing city. Based on this newly collected Beijing trace and the existing Shanghai trace, we obtain some invariant properties for communication contacts of large scale RSU-aided VDTNs. Specifically, we find that the contact time between RSUs and vehicles obeys an exponential distribution, while the contact rate between them follows a Poisson distribution. According to these observations, we investigate the problem of communication contact-aware mobile data replication for RSU-aided VDTNs by considering the mobile data dissemination system that transmits data from the Internet to vehicles via RSUs through opportunistic communications. In particular, we formulate the communication contact-aware RSU-aided vehicular mobile data dissemination problem as an optimization problem with realistic VDTN settings, and we provide an efficient heuristic solution for this NP-hard problem. By carrying out extensive simulation using realistic vehicular traces, we demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed heuristic contact-aware data replication scheme, in comparison with the optimal solution and other existing schemes.
Proliferating primary hepatocytes from the pUR288 lacZ plasmid mouse are valuable tools for genotoxicity assessment in vitro

Safety assessments of substances with regard to genotoxicity are generally based on a combination of in vitro and in vivo tests. These tests are performed according to a (tiered) test strategy whereby a positive result in vitro usually triggers further testing in vivo. A low specificity and high frequency of irrelevant positive results associated with most in vitro mammalian cell genotoxicity assays necessitates the design and validation of suitable alternatives. As such, we examined the feasibility of culturing primary hepatocytes from the pUR288 lacZ reporter mouse, and moreover, using established cultures to reliably assess genotoxic activity in vitro. Initial studies characterizing the metabolic capacity of proliferating lacZ primary hepatocytes indicated that these cells retained at least some activities important for xenobiotic metabolism: cytochrome P450 1A1 enzyme activities were markedly increased in the hepatocytes after exposure to benzo[a]pyrene, and also UDP‐glucuronosyl transferase and glutathione‐S‐transferase activities, both Phase II enzymes, were detected. Increasing levels of phosphorylated p53 at residue serine 389 after ultraviolet treatment indicated a properly functioning p53, one of the criteria for an effective new test system. Four genotoxic substances with different mechanisms of genotoxicity, i.e., benzo[a]pyrene, bleomycin, etoposide, and cyclophosphamide, were tested in the lacZ rescue assay. For etoposide and cyclophosphamide, the induction of mutant colonies was rather low. Exposure to benzo[a]pyrene and bleomycin, however, yielded a clear concentration‐dependent induction of the lacZ mutant frequency. Based on our preliminary observations, proliferating lacZ primary hepatocytes are a promising new tool for the assessment of genotoxic hazard. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 2012. © 2012Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Compact and Bandwidth-Enhanced Zeroth-Order Resonant Antenna

In this letter, a simple bandwidth-enhanced zeroth- order resonant (ZOR) antenna is proposed. The presented antenna is composed of two unit cells of the composite right/left-handed (CRLH) artificial structure and operates in the series resonant mode. In order to enhance the operational bandwidth, in particular, the interdigital capacitor in a unit cell was properly designed so as to reduce the quality factor of the resonator while occupying a relatively small area. Additionally, to facilitate implementation of the short-circuited boundary condition, the coplanar waveguide (CPW) was applied to develop a via-less uniplanar antenna prototype. Experimental results show that the presented ZOR antenna achieves a 10-dB bandwidth of 15.1% and a peak radiation gain of 1.62 dBi with a compact size of 0. 14λ0 ×0. 22λ0 at the operating frequency. Measured and simulated results are in good agreement.
Tin dioxide from first principles: Quasiparticle electronic states and optical properties

A. Schleife,1,2,3 J. B. Varley,3 F. Fuchs,1,2 C. Rödl,1,2 F. Bechstedt,1,2 P. Rinke,2,4 A. Janotti,4 and C. G. Van de Walle4 1Institut für Festkörpertheorie und -optik, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Max-Wien-Platz 1, D-07743 Jena, Germany 2European Theoretical Spectroscopy Facility (ETSF) 3Department of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-9530, USA 4Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-5050, USA (Received 1 July 2010; published 18 January 2011)
PixNet: LCD-camera pairs as communication links

Given the abundance of cameras and LCDs in today's environment, there exists an untapped opportunity for using these devices for communication. Specifically, cameras can tune to nearby LCDs and use them for network access. The key feature of these LCD-camera links is that they are highly directional and hence enable a form of interference-free wireless communication. This makes them an attractive technology for dense, high contention scenarios. The main challenge, however, to enable such LCD-camera links is to maximize coverage, that is to deliver multiple Mb/s over multi-meter distances, independent of the view angle. To do so, these links need to address unique types of channel distortions, such as perspective distortion and blur. In this demo, we show how these LCD-camera links can be used to wirelessly transmit information. We present PixNet, an LCD-camera communication system. PixNet generalizes the popular OFDM transmission algorithms to address the unique properties of the LCD-camera link, including perspective distortion and blur. We have built a prototype of PixNet using off-the-shelf LCDs and cameras. In our demo, we will show our prototype communicating data from an LCD to a camera-equipped PC, over multi-meter distances and wide viewing angles.