Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Theoretical basis for a pharmacology of nerve growth factor biosynthesis.

Neuronal plasticity is a term widely used to indicate a number of neuronal mechanisms that are coordinated and triggered in the peripheral and central nervous system (eNS) to overcome functional impairment due to damage evoked by disease processes and trauma. Though this term is mainly descrip­ tive for various molecular processes whose operation and nature are still unclear, we now believe that neuronal plasticity is controlled by a variety of trophic factors produced by neuronal and glial cells. Nerve growth factor (NGF) could be one of these trophic agents. Indeed, several lines of evidence assign to NGF a role as trophic factor for specific populations of central cholinergic neurons. It is currently thought that NGF might be used to prevent the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. However, its inability to cross the blood brain barrier prevents NGF from being easily used in CNS disorder therapy. One alternative that should be explored is the possibility of enhanc­ ing NGF availability via a pharmacologically induced increase of NGF biosynthesis and release in the CNS. At present, the mechanisms that regulate the synthesis and release of NGF are still unknown. These mechanisms must be characterized before drugs can be developed that will ameliorate the symptoms of neurodegenerative diseases
Direct word discovery from speech signals based on hierarchical Dirichlet process-hidden language model and deep sparse autoencoder

Word discovery is a critical part of language acquisition for infants. Human infants can discover words from human speech signals directly. However, direct word discovery from raw speech signals is still a challenging problem for recent artificial intelligence technology. This paper describes our new experimental result based on the state-of-the-art machine learning method, which we previously proposed, that enables a robot to acquire acoustic and language models simultaneously. A robot can acquire them from raw speech signals without any transcribed data, i.e., in an unsupervised manner. The method is based on hierarchical Dirichlet process-hidden language model, which is a generative model that integrate language and acoustic models, and deep sparse autoencoder, which is an unsupervised deep learning method. We also report our new results about direct word discovery from vowel sequences. The results lead us to open discussion about the computational process of language acquisition in human development.
A Longitudinal Study of Relationships Between Three Burnout Dimensions Among Secondary School Teachers

Normal 0 false false false NL X-NONE X-NONE This study examined the direction and time-frame of the relationships between three burnout dimensions among 243 secondary school teachers. A review of the literature on this topic revealed six longitudinal studies (Van Dierendonck et al., 1997; Leiter, 1990; Lee & Ashforth, 1993; Taris et al., 2005; Te Brake et al., 2008; Parker & Salmela-Aro, 2011). Structural equation modeling analyses indicated that emotional exhaustion had a synchronous effect on depersonalization as well as on personal accomplishment, while personal accomplishment had a synchronous effect on depersonalization. These findings offer partial confirmation of the sequence of burnout dimensions proposed by Leiter and Maslach (1988 ), Taris et al. (2005), and Parker and Salmela-Aro (2011) , but no evidence was found in favor of the Golembiewski et al. (1986) model. It was concluded that school principals and psychologists who want to prevent and treat teacher burnout at an early stage, before it becomes chronic, must be sensitive to the warning signs of emotional exhaustion.
Anisakis – immunology of a foodborne parasitosis

Anisakis species are marine nematodes which can cause zoonotic infection in humans if consumed in raw, pickled or undercooked fish and seafood. Infection with Anisakis is associated with abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhoea and can lead to massive infiltration of eosinophils and formation of granulomas in the gastrointestinal tract if the larvae are not removed. Re‐infection leads to systemic allergic reactions such as urticarial or anaphylaxis in some individuals, making Anisakis an important source of hidden allergens in seafood. This review summarizes the immunopathology associated with Anisakis infection. Anisakiasis and gastroallergic reactions can be prevented by consuming only fish that has been frozen to −20°C to the core for at least 24 hours before preparation. Sensitization to Anisakis proteins can also occur, primarily due to occupational exposure to infested fish, and can lead to dermatitis, rhinoconjunctivitis or asthma. In this case, exposure to fish should be avoided.
Epithelial tumors of the lacrimal gland: an update

Purpose of review The goal of this article is to offer an update on the treatment and prognosis of the most common epithelial tumors of the lacrimal gland, report on new pathological entities and offer a review of the classification of lacrimal gland tumors. Recent findings Improvements have been made in the understanding of lacrimal gland lesions with the knowledge that lacrimal gland tumors compare to the more common counterparts of the major salivary glands. Therefore, the WHO's classification of salivary gland tumors has been adapted to the lacrimal gland pathology. Until recently, primary adenocarcinomas of the lacrimal gland were not further subclassified, but they can now be divided into low-grade and high-grade malignancies. The adjunctive use of intra-arterial cytoreductive chemotherapy for the management of adenoid cystic carcinoma is one of the most important advancements on the management of these aggressive tumors. Another important step forward has been taken on carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma of the lacrimal gland, which is subclassified into noninvasive carcinoma, with an excellent prognosis after complete excision and invasive carcinoma for which the prognosis is still guarded despite adjunctive radiotherapy. Summary This article offers an update on diagnosis, classification and treatment of common and rare epithelial lacrimal gland tumors.
Virulent Coxiella burnetii pathotypes productively infect primary human alveolar macrophages

The intracellular bacterial pathogen Coxiella burnetii is a category B select agent that causes human Q fever. In vivo, C. burnetii targets alveolar macrophages wherein the pathogen replicates in a lysosome‐like parasitophorous vacuole (PV). In vitro, C. burnetii infects a variety of cultured cell lines that have collectively been used to model the pathogen's infectious cycle. However, differences in the cellular response to infection have been observed, and virulent C. burnetii isolate infection of host cells has not been well defined. Because alveolar macrophages are routinely implicated in disease, we established primary human alveolar macrophages (hAMs) as an in vitro model of C. burnetii–host cell interactions. C. burnetii pathotypes, including acute disease and endocarditis isolates, replicated in hAMs, albeit with unique PV properties. Each isolate replicated in large, typical PV and small, non‐fused vacuoles, and lipid droplets were present in avirulent C. burnetii PV. Interestingly, a subset of small vacuoles harboured single organisms undergoing degradation. Prototypical PV formation and bacterial growth in hAMs required a functional type IV secretion system, indicating C. burnetii secretes effector proteins that control macrophage functions. Avirulent C. burnetii promoted sustained activation of Akt and Erk1/2 pro‐survival kinases and short‐termphosphorylation of stress‐related p38. Avirulent organisms also triggered a robust, early pro‐inflammatory response characterized by increased secretion of TNF‐α and IL‐6, while virulent isolates elicited substantially reduced secretion of these cytokines. A corresponding increase in pro‐ and mature IL‐1β occurred in hAMs infected with avirulent C. burnetii, while little accumulation was observed following infection with virulent isolates. Finally, treatment of hAMs with IFN‐γ controlled intracellular replication, supporting a role for this antibacterial insult in the host response to C. burnetii. Collectively, the current results demonstrate the hAM model is a human disease‐relevant platform for defining novel innate immune responses to C. burnetii.
Context-dependent interaction leads to emergent search behavior in social aggregates

Locating the source of an advected chemical signal is a common challenge facing many living organisms. When the advecting medium is characterized by either high Reynolds number or high Peclet number, the task becomes highly nontrivial due to the generation of heterogeneous, dynamically changing filamental concentrations that do not decrease monotonically with distance to the source. Defining search strategies that are effective in these environments has important implications for the understanding of animal behavior and for the design of biologically inspired technology. Here we present a strategy that is able to solve this task without the higher intelligence required to assess spatial gradient direction, measure the diffusive properties of the flow field, or perform complex calculations. Instead, our method is based on the collective behavior of autonomous individuals following simple social interaction rules which are modified according to the local conditions they are experiencing. Through these context-dependent interactions, the group is able to locate the source of a chemical signal and in doing so displays an awareness of the environment not present at the individual level. This behavior illustrates an alternative pathway to the evolution of higher cognitive capacity via the emergent, group-level intelligence that can result from local interactions.
Components of Cooperative Learning: Effects of Collaborative-Skills and Academic Group Contingencies on the Social Interaction of Isolated Students.

Abstract : In this study the effects of (a) opportunity to interact with classmates, (b) positive goal interdependence, (c) positive goal interdependence with a collaborative-skills group contingency, and (d) positive goal interdependence with both collaborative-skills and academic group contingencies, were investigated on the achievement, relationships with nonhandicapped peers, and voluntary use of collaborative-skills of socially withdrawn and isolated students. Four socially isolated and withdrawn students (2 eighth grade and 2 eleventh-grade) were studied in English and chemistry classes. The results indicate that positive goal interdependence with both collaborative-skills and academic group contingencies promoted the most positive relationships with nonhandicapped classmates, most frequent engagement in cooperative skills, and the highest achievement for theses students. A second purpose of the study was to compare the impact of positive goal interdependence with specific collaborative-skills and academic group contingencies with positive goal interdependence alone and individualistic learning for three matched English classes taught by the same teacher. Students in both cooperative conditions achieved significantly higher than did the students in the individualistic condition.
Naive CD8+ T cells differentiate into protective memory-like cells after IL-2–anti–IL-2 complex treatment in vivo

An optimal CD8+ T cell response requires signals from the T cell receptor (TCR), co-stimulatory molecules, and cytokines. In most cases, the relative contribution of these signals to CD8+ T cell proliferation, accumulation, effector function, and differentiation to memory is unknown. Recent work (Boyman, O., M. Kovar, M.P. Rubinstein, C.D. Surh, and J. Sprent. 2006. Science. 311:1924–1927; Kamimura, D., Y. Sawa, M. Sato, E. Agung, T. Hirano, and M. Murakami. 2006. J. Immunol. 177:306–314) has shown that anti–interleukin (IL) 2 monoclonal antibodies that are neutralizing in vitro enhance the potency of IL-2 in vivo. We investigated the role of IL-2 signals in driving CD8+ T cell proliferation in the absence of TCR stimulation by foreign antigen. IL-2 signals induced rapid activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 in all CD8+ T cells, both naive and memory phenotype, and promoted the differentiation of naive CD8+ T cells into effector cells. IL-2–anti–IL-2 complexes induced proliferation of naive CD8+ T cells in an environment with limited access to self–major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and when competition for self-MHC ligands was severe. After transfer into wild-type animals, IL-2–activated CD8+ T cells attained and maintained a central memory phenotype and protected against lethal bacterial infection. IL-2–anti–IL-2 complex–driven memory-like CD8+ T cells had incomplete cellular fitness compared with antigen-driven memory cells regarding homeostatic turnover and cytokine production. These results suggest that intense IL-2 signals, with limited contribution from the TCR, program the differentiation of protective memory-like CD8+ cells but are insufficient to guarantee overall cellular fitness.
Bovine Genomics From Academia to Industry

Summary of NSRP-8 station report:cattle, sheep and goats The objectives of this project NSRP-8 are:1. Enhance and integrate genetic and physicalmaps of agriculturally important animals forcross-species comparisons and sequence anno-tation.2. Facilitate integration of genomic, transcrip-tional, proteomic and metabolomic approachestoward better understanding of biological mech-anisms underlying economically important tra-its.3. Facilitate and implement bioinformatics tools toextract, analyse, store and disseminate informa-tion.Scientists from the University of Arkansas, theUniversity of California at Davis, the Univer-sity of Illinois, Iowa State University, LouisianaState University, Purdue University, New MexicoState University, Oklahoma State University, TexasA&M University, Utah State University, the Uni-versity of Wisconsin–Madison and a few otheruniversities gathered to present and discuss infor-mation regarding these objectives. The scope ofthe information ranged from mapping projects anddeﬁning QTL to presentation of the effects of poly-morphisms in candidate genes in cattle and sheepchallenged with different production systems andenvironments. Genetic inﬂuences of lactation andbehavioural traits such as disposition were also dis-cussed, as were the inﬂuences of genetic anomalies,such as callipyge. Milt Thomas of New MexicoState University served as the session coordinatorand was assisted by secretary Udaya Desilva ofOklahoma State University, who will serve as thesession coordinator in 2006. Clare Gill of TexasA&M University was elected to serve as the sec-retary in 2006. Bioinformatic information was alsopresented and the committee voted to include dis-cussion of goats into the symposium.
Region-based saliency detection

In this study, the authors propose an unsupervised approach to detect saliency of each pixel in an image. The proposed region-based pixel-wise saliency detection approach produces full resolution (same as that of the original image) saliency map and precisely locates visually prominent region/object of interest in the input image. There are two parts in the authors approach. In the first phase, they partition the input image into homogeneous regions using split-and-merge technique. In the second phase, they rank the regions based on its proximity to the centre of the image, visual significance, size and completeness. Based on the ranking of the regions, the significance of each pixel is computed. The proposed saliency detection approaches improves the accuracy of content-based applications such as salient object segmentation and content aware image resizing. Experimental results show that their proposed approach qualitatively better than the state-of-art approaches and quantitatively comparable to ground truth information which are collected from human observers.
Personal Efficacy, the Information Environment, and Attitudes Toward Global Warming and Climate Change in the United States

Despite the growing scientific consensus about the risks of global warming and climate change, the mass media frequently portray the subject as one of great scientific controversy and debate. And yet previous studies of the mass public's subjective assessments of the risks of global warming and climate change have not sufficiently examined public informedness, public confidence in climate scientists, and the role of personal efficacy in affecting global warming outcomes. By examining the results of a survey on an original and representative sample of Americans, we find that these three forces—informedness, confidence in scientists, and personal efficacy—are related in interesting and unexpected ways, and exert significant influence on risk assessments of global warming and climate change. In particular, more informed respondents both feel less personally responsible for global warming, and also show less concern for global warming. We also find that confidence in scientists has unexpected effects: respondents with high confidence in scientists feel less responsible for global warming, and also show less concern for global warming. These results have substantial implications for the interaction between scientists and the public in general, and for the public discussion of global warming and climate change in particular.
Power Minimization with Multiple Supply Voltages and Multiple Threshold Voltages

Assigning gate supply voltage and transistor threshold voltages to a range of discrete values is a combinatorial problem. The optimization computational difficulty grows exponentially with the netlist size. Whereas, if the range of values is continuous, we show that the global optimum can be found in polynomial time. We show that posynomials can model variable supply and threshold voltages, with skewed gate drive strengths. The models have root mean square (RMS) errors of 10% or less compared to 0.13um SPICE data. With these models, geometric programming gives a convex problem formulation with globally optimal solutions for minimum delay, energy×delay, or power. For the examples considered, dual voltage and continuous voltage solutions reduce power by up to 22% compared to the optimal solution using single supply and thresholds voltages.
Reducibility as a Tool to Extend the Power of Approximation Algorithms the Minimization of Boolean Expressions

Summary. — According to the more recent theoretical resuhs the exact resolutions of a large number of combinatorial problems are to be considérée/ practically unobtainable. In this work starting from Johnson's approach to approximation algorithms we show that some good advantages can be taken from reducibility among combinatorial problems. Minimization of Boolean Expressions is demonstrated to be reducible to Set Co ver ing and consequently an already known approximation algorithm for the latter is applied to the former. In the conclusions a discussion is open about the prospects and limits of the proposed methodology.
Purification and Mass Spectrometric Identification of GA-binding Protein (GABP) as the Functional Pituitary Ets Factor Binding to the Basal Transcription Element of the Prolactin Promoter*

The Ets-binding site within the basal transcription element (BTE) of the rat prolactin (rPRL) promoter is critical for both basal and growth factor-regulated rPRL gene expression. Here we report the purification and identification of the factor that binds to the BTE. This factor was purified from GH3 pituitary nuclear extracts using ammonium sulfate fractionation, heparin-Sepharose and Mono Q chromatography, and BTE-affinity magnetic beads. We purified two proteins of 57 and 47 kDa and identified the 57-kDa protein by mass spectrometry as the Ets factor GABPα. Western blot analysis identified the 47-kDa protein as GABPβ1. Co-transfection of dominant-negative GABPβ1 blocks prolactin promoter basal activity by 85–88% in GH3 cells in the presence or absence of FGF-4. Additionally, expression of wild-type GABPα/β1 selectively activates a minimal BTE promoter 24–28-fold in GH3 cells, and this activation is dependent on the Ets-binding site. Finally, small interfering RNA depletion of GABP in GH3 cells results in the loss of prolactin protein. Thus, we have identified GABPα/GABPβ1 as a critical and functionally relevant Ets factor that regulates rPRL promoter activity via the BTE site.
Side lobes level reduction in planar array antenna using two-dimensional window functions

Antenna directivity characteristic depends on the geometrical dimensions of the antenna, the geometrical configuration, the excitation amplitude and the excitation phase of the individual elements and the radiation pattern of the individual elements. The directivity properties of antennas are improved by using array antennas. In this paper it is presented a solution for side lobes level reduction in planar array antenna using two-dimensional window functions. The beamwidth and side lobes level of the antenna radiation pattern are analysed.
A Qualitative Analysis of Emotional Facilitators in Exercise

Although previous research has shown that emotions are consistently associated with sport and exercise behavior, the working mechanisms are not understood to the extent of creating an intervention. The aim of this study is to identify situations and aspects of recreational sport and exercise, which lead to positive emotional reactions in people taking part in regular and long-term exercise. In this study, 24 adults (12 female, 12 male) distributed over three age groups (young, middle, and late adulthood), took part in recreational sports (individual or team sport) for at least 5 years. Semi-structured in depth interviews with questions about sport and exercise habits, long term participation and emotional response in a sporting environment were conducted in order to ascertain those situations and aspects of the exercise program triggering positive emotions. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and followed Grounded Theory principles. Emerging concepts were grouped and merged into different categories representing the key aspects of sport and exercise. Four factors were identified which are associated with the emergence of positive emotions in recreational sport and exercise. Firstly, perceived competence is one of the major factors influencing emotions during exercise and can represent individual and collective success and progress, competition and challenge. Secondly, perceived social interaction is another factor comprising of all sorts of peer-related aspects such as communication with others, being part of a group and creating close relationships or friendships. Thirdly, novelty experience in contrast to other none-sporting activities such as work, family or other leisure activities was another factor. The last factor found was the perceived physical exertion comprising of the degree of exhaustion, a possibly delayed turnaround in the emotional response and the aspect of sport being a physical compensation for everyday sedentary life. The results of this study provide the starting point for the development of interventions to enhance positive emotions in sports in order to increase maintenance and adherence to recreational sport and exercise.
Androgen Influence on Cholesterogenic Enzyme mRNA Levels in the Mouse Meibomian Gland

Purpose: We tested our hypothesis that testosterone increases the meibomian gland gene expression of numerous enzymes in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. Methods: Meibomian glands were obtained from castrated mice treated with vehicle or testosterone for 2 weeks. Tissues were processed for the analysis of selected mRNAs by real-time PCR. Results: Our research demonstrates that testosterone stimulates a significant increase in the mRNA levels of mevalonate kinase, phosphomevalonate kinase, mevalonate pyrophosphate decarboxylase, isopentenyl pyrophosphate isomerase, geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate synthase, squalene epoxidase, lanosterol synthase, lanosterol demethylase, and Δ 7-sterol reductase. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that androgens may promote cholesterol biosynthesis in the meibomian gland.