Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Transcriptional Enhancer from the Coding Region of ADAMTS5

Background The revelation that the human genome encodes only ∼25,000 genes and thus cannot account for phenotypic complexity has been one of the biggest surprises in the post-genomic era. However, accumulating evidence suggests that transcriptional regulation may be in large part responsible for this observed mammalian complexity. Consequently, there has been a strong drive to locate cis-regulatory regions in mammalian genomes in order to understand the unifying principles governing these regions, including their genomic distribution. Although a number of systematic approaches have been developed, these all discount coding sequence. Methodology/Principal Findings Using the computational tool PRI (Pattern-defined Regulatory Islands), which does not mask coding sequence, we identified a regulatory region associated with the gene ADAMTS5 that encompasses the entirety of the essential coding exon 2. We demonstrate through a combination of chromatin immunoprecipitation and reporter gene studies that this region can not only bind the myogenic transcription factors MYOD and myogenin and the E-protein HEB but can also function as a very strong myogenic transcriptional enhancer. Conclusions/Significance Thus, we report the identification and detailed characterization of an exonic enhancer. Ultimately, this leads to the interesting question of why evolution would be so parsimonious in the functional assignment of sequence.
Enhanced heart rate variability and baroreflex index after stress and cholinesterase inhibition in mice.

Experiments tested the effect of stress coupled with cholinesterase inhibition on blood pressure, heart rate, baroreflex index, and variability in time and frequency domain in conscious mice. The objective was to determine whether cholinergic systems interact with stress to alter cardiovascular responses. Male C57BL/6J mice with arterial catheters were exposed to 3-day treatments: 1) intermittent shaker stress, 2) pyridostigmine (10 mg.kg(-1). day(-1)); or 3) combined pyridostigmine and stress. Pyridostigmine reduced blood cholinesterase (-33%) with no added effects of stress. Twenty-four-hour blood pressure recordings showed that there were no differences in blood pressure and heart rate with the treatments. Pulse interval standard deviation was greatly increased in the pyridostigmine/stress group compared with stress or pyridostigmine groups (11.0 +/- 1.4, 5.0 +/- 0.9, and 7.5 +/- 0.9 ms, respectively). Spectral analysis showed two distinct components for pulse interval variability (low and high frequency). Variability in the low-frequency range was greatly enhanced in the pyridostigmine/stress group, seen as a doubling of the power (9.5 +/- 1.7, 3.3 +/- 0.9, and 5.0 +/- 0.6 ms for pyridostigmine/stress, stress and pyridostigmine groups, respectively). Baroreflex sensitivity was also increased in the pyridostigmine/stress group (3.6 +/- 0.5 compared with 1.8 +/- 0.3 and 1.7 +/- 0.5 ms/mmHg in the stress and pyridostigmine groups, respectively). There was no difference in blood pressure variability or its spectral components. Results demonstrate that there are potent interactions between a mild stressor and cholinesterase inhibition seen as an accentuation of low-frequency variability in pulse interval time series, probably associated with baroreflex input and autonomic drive.
Clinical Significance of Preterm Singleton Pregnancies Complicated by Placental Abruption following Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes Compared with Those without p-PROM

The purpose of this paper was to examine the obstetric and neonatal outcomes of preterm singleton pregnancies complicated by placental abruption following preterm premature rupture of membranes (p-PROM) compared with those without p-PROM. We reviewed the obstetric records of 95 singleton deliveries complicated by placental abruption at 22–36 weeks' gestation. The incidence of placental abruption in singleton pregnancies with p-PROM was 4.7%, and the crude odds ratio of placental abruption for women following p-PROM was 6.50 (P < 0.01). Of the 95 cases of placental abruption in preterm singleton deliveries, 64 cases (67.4%) occurred without p-PROM and 31 cases (32.6%) occurred following p-PROM. The incidence of histological chorioamnionitis stage III in the patients following p-PROM was significantly higher than that in the patients without p-PROM (P = 0.02). The rate of emergency Cesarean deliveries associated with nonreassuring fetal status (NRFS) in the patients following p-PROM was significantly lower than that in the patients without p-PROM. However, there were no significant differences in the maternal and neonatal outcomes between the patients with and without p-PROM. Although p-PROM may be one of important risk factors for placental abruption associated with chorioamnionitis, it may not influence the perinatal outcomes in preterm placental abruption.
The role of trachelectomy in cervical cancer

Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women worldwide. Because it often affects women of childbearing age (19–45 years), fertility-sparing surgery is an important issue. The article reviews current viable fertility-sparing options with a special focus on trachelectomy, including vaginal radical trachelectomy, abdominal radical trachelectomy and simple trachelectomy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is also discussed. Finally, the decision to proceed with fertility-sparing treatment should be a patient-driven process.
Divergence and convergence of TGF‐β/BMP signaling

The transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) superfamily includes more than 30 members which have a broad array of biological activities. TGF‐β superfamily ligands bind to type II and type I serine/threonine kinase receptors and transduce signals via Smad proteins. Receptor‐regulated Smads (R‐Smads) can be classified into two subclasses, i.e. those activated by activin and TGF‐β signaling pathways (AR‐Smads), and those activated by bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathways (BR‐Smads). The numbers of type II and type I receptors and Smad proteins are limited. Thus, signaling of the TGF‐β superfamily converges at the receptor and Smad levels. In the intracellular signaling pathways, Smads interact with various partner proteins and thereby exhibit a wide variety of biological activities. Moreover, signaling by Smads is modulated by various other signaling pathways allowing TGF‐β superfamily ligands to elicit diverse effects on target cells. Perturbations of the TGF‐β/BMP signaling pathways result in various clinical disorders including cancers, vascular diseases, and bone disorders. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Ieee Transactions on Image Processing 1 " Shape Activity " : a Continuous State Hmm for Moving/deforming Shapes with Application to Abnormal Activity Detection

— The aim is to model " activity " performed by a group of moving and interacting objects (which can be people or cars or different rigid components of the human body) and use the models for abnormal activity detection. Previous approaches to modeling group activity include co-occurrence statistics (individual and joint histograms) and Dynamic Bayesian Networks, neither of which is applicable when the number of interacting objects is large. We treat the objects as point objects (referred to as " landmarks ") and propose to model their changing configuration as a moving and deforming " shape " (using Kendall's shape theory for discrete landmarks). A continuous state Hidden Markov Model (HMM) is defined for landmark shape dynamics in an activity. The configuration of landmarks at a given time forms the observation vector and the corresponding shape and the scaled Euclidean motion parameters form the hidden state vector. An abnormal activity is then defined as a change in the shape activity model, which could be slow or drastic and whose parameters are unknown. Results are shown on a real abnormal activity detection problem involving multiple moving objects.
A Shared Task on Argumentation Mining in Newspaper Editorials

This paper proposes a shared task for the identification of the argumentative structure in newspaper editorials. By the term “argumentative structure” we refer to the sequence of argumentative units in the text along with the relations between them. The main contribution is a large-scale dataset with more than 200 annotated editorials, which shall help argumentation mining researchers to evaluate and compare their systems in a standardized manner. The paper details how we model and manually identify argumentative structures in order to build this evaluation resource. Altogether, we consider the proposed task as a constructive step towards improving writing assistance systems and debating technologies.
Lessons Learned from Planning the Use of Mobile Technologies at Schools in Hong Kong

This paper reports and discusses the findings from the first phase of a research study concerning the use of mobile technologies for teaching and learning within 10 schools in Hong Kong. Implementation plans devised by the schools were evaluated by an extended framework for analyzing mobile learning with a view from teachers’ perspective. Initial finding reveals that teachers could contrive limited learning activities involving the use of mobile technologies in a range of subject areas within school environment. Insights derived from the finding highlight a need to guide teachers towards cultivating a more student-controlled and socio-constructive learning environment mediated by mobile technologies.
Transient photoconductivity in CdSe nanoparticles and nanocrystalline TiO2 as measured by time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy

The transient photoconductivity of dye-sensitized nanocrystalline colloidal TiO2 has been measured time-resolved THz spectroscopy (TRTS), a non-contact electrical probe with sub-picosecond temporal resolution. The photoconductivity deviates strongly from Drude behavior and is explained by disorder-induced carrier localization and/or backscattering of the photogenerated carriers. In addition, the carriers are found to thermally equilibrate with the lattice in roughly 300 femtoseconds. The size-dependent photoconductivity of CdSe nanoparticles ranging from 2.54 nm up to >25 nm has also been measured using TRTS. The measured change in the frequency-dependent optical density and change in phase of the transmitted THz pulse fall into three distinct groupings as a function of size and can be classified for diameters smaller than the Bohr exciton radius, diameters greater than the Bohr exciton radius but smaller than the bulk mean free path, and diameters greater than the bulk mean free path. The underlying cause of the grouping is a size-dependent mobility (or carrier scattering rate).
PIV measurements of the instantaneous velocities of flow in an annular duct

Particle image Velocimetry (PIV) is a well-established technique in the field of fluid flow measurement and provides instantaneous velocity fields over global domains. It has been applied to external and internal flows, in single and two-phase flows. Regarding internal flow, works about the application of PIV in annular ducts are scanty. An experimental work is presented, where flow of water is studied in an annular duct of inner diameter of 60 mm and outer diameter of 155 mm and 10.5-m length, with the goal of obtaining detailed velocity measurements. Experiments were also conducted in a 21.1-mm inner-diameter horizontal transparent pipe of 3m length for comparison purposes. Depending on the flow rates of water, it can be laminar, transitional or turbulent. In this study, the water flow rate was kept at two different values for the horizontal pipe, for either laminar or turbulent flow, and three different values for the annular duct, allowing the analysis of one laminar and two turbulent flows. Velocity fields and statistic quantities of the turbulent flow were calculated.
Comparison of Three Non-Invasive Transcranial Electrical Stimulation Methods for Increasing Cortical Excitability

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a representative non-invasive brain stimulation method (NIBS). tDCS increases cortical excitability not only in healthy individuals, but also in stroke patients where it contributes to motor function improvement. Recently, two additional types of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) methods have been introduced that may also prove beneficial for stimulating cortical excitability; these are transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS) and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS). However, comparison of tDCS with tRNS and tACS, in terms of efficacy in cortical excitability alteration, has not been reported thus far. We compared the efficacy of the three different tES methods for increasing cortical excitability using the same subject population and same current intensity. Fifteen healthy subjects participated in this study. Similar stimulation patterns (1.0 mA and 10 min) were used for the three conditions of stimulation (tDCS, tRNS, and tACS). Cortical excitability was explored via single-pulse TMS elicited motor evoked potentials (MEPs). Compared with pre-measurements, MEPs significantly increased with tDCS, tACS, and tRNS (p < 0.05). Compared with sham measurements, significant increases in MEPs were also observed with tRNS and tACS (p < 0.05), but not with tDCS. In addition, a significant correlation of the mean stimulation effect was observed between tRNS and tACS (p = 0.019, r = 0.598). tRNS induced a significant increase in MEP compared with the Pre or Sham at all time points. tRNS resulted in the largest significant increase in MEPs. These findings suggest that tRNS is the most effective tES method and should be considered as part of a treatment plan for improving motor function in stroke patients.
Recoverin is highly uveitogenic in Lewis rats.

PURPOSE Recoverin, a calcium-binding protein that selectively localizes to the retina and pineal gland, has been identified as the target for the putative pathogenic autoimmune process of cancer-associated retinopathy (CAR). The present study was aimed at testing the capacity of recoverin to induce experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis and pinealitis in Lewis rats. METHODS Lewis rats were immunized against recombinant myristoylated recoverin by a single footpad injection of the protein, at various doses, emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant. Development of uveoretinitis was monitored by clinical and histologic examinations, whereas pinealitis was detected by histologic examination. RESULTS Immunization with recoverin induced severe panuveitic changes that closely resemble those induced by S-antigen (arrestin). The effect was dose-dependent, with 10 micrograms/rat the lowest immunopathogenic dose. Rats immunized with recoverin also developed pineal inflammation. CONCLUSION Recoverin is highly immunopathogenic in Lewis rats. Although the ocular changes induced in rats differ from those seen in CAR, the data recorded here are in line with the concept that recoverin can initiate pathogenic autoimmune processes in the eye.
Environmental Nitrate Stimulates Abscisic Acid Accumulation in Arabidopsis Root Tips by Releasing It from Inactive Stores[OPEN]

Nitrate stimulates abscisic acid accumulation in root tips by inducing expression of the gene encoding the ABA-glucose ester-deconjugating enzyme β-GLUCOSIDASE1, thereby regulating root growth. Abscisic acid (ABA) signaling plays a major role in root system development, regulating growth and root architecture. However, the precise localization of ABA remains undetermined. Here, we present a mechanism in which nitrate signaling stimulates the release of bioactive ABA from the inactive storage form, ABA-glucose ester (ABA-GE). We found that ABA accumulated in the endodermis and quiescent center of Arabidopsis thaliana root tips, mimicking the pattern of SCARECROW expression, and (to lower levels) in the vascular cylinder. Nitrate treatment increased ABA levels in root tips; this stimulation requires the activity of the endoplasmic reticulum-localized, ABA-GE-deconjugating enzyme β-GLUCOSIDASE1, but not de novo ABA biosynthesis. Immunogold labeling demonstrated that ABA is associated with cytoplasmic structures near, but not within, the endoplasmic reticulum. These findings demonstrate a mechanism for nitrate-regulated root growth via regulation of ABA accumulation in the root tip, providing insight into the environmental regulation of root growth.
Biostimulant action of a plant-derived protein hydrolysate produced through enzymatic hydrolysis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the biostimulant action (hormone like activity, nitrogen uptake, and growth stimulation) of a plant-derived protein hydrolysate by means of two laboratory bioassays: a corn (Zea mays L.) coleoptile elongation rate test (Experiment 1), a rooting test on tomato cuttings (Experiment 2); and two greenhouse experiments: a dwarf pea (Pisum sativum L.) growth test (Experiment 3), and a tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) nitrogen uptake trial (Experiment 4). Protein hydrolysate treatments of corn caused an increase in coleoptile elongation rate when compared to the control, in a dose-dependent fashion, with no significant differences between the concentrations 0.75, 1.5, and 3.0 ml/L, and inodole-3-acetic acid treatment. The auxin-like effect of the protein hydrolysate on corn has been also observed in the rooting experiment of tomato cuttings. The shoot, root dry weight, root length, and root area were significantly higher by 21, 35, 24, and 26%, respectively, in tomato treated plants with the protein hydrolysate at 6 ml/L than untreated plants. In Experiment 3, the application of the protein hydrolysate at all doses (0.375, 0.75, 1.5, and 3.0 ml/L) significantly increased the shoot length of the gibberellin-deficient dwarf pea plants by an average value of 33% in comparison with the control treatment. Increasing the concentration of the protein hydrolysate from 0 to 10 ml/L increased the total dry biomass, SPAD index, and leaf nitrogen content by 20.5, 15, and 21.5%, respectively. Thus the application of plant-derived protein hydrolysate containing amino acids and small peptides elicited a hormone-like activity, enhanced nitrogen uptake and consequently crop performances.
Key Color Generation for Affective Multimedia Production: An Initial Method and Its Application

In this paper, we introduce a method that generates a key color to construct an aesthetic and affective harmony with visual content. Given an image and an affective term, our method creates a key color by combining a dominant hue of the image and a unique tone associated with the affective word. To match each affective term with a specific tone, we collected color themes from a crowd-sourced database and identified the most popular tone of color themes that are relevant to each affective term. The results of a user test showed that the method generates satisfactory key colors as much as designers do. Finally, as a prospective application, we employed our method to a promotional video editing prototype. Our method automatically generates a key color based on a frame of an input video and apply the color to a shape that delivers a promotional message. A second user study verifies that the video editing prototype with our method can effectively deliver the desired affective state with a satisfactory quality.
Examining Similarity : Using Neural Network Techniques to Model Similarity Phenomena

This paper presents a neural network approach to modelling similarity computations. Generally, in the many applications of similarity geometric and contrast models have been the primary tools used to perform similarity computations. We discuss both of these models and show that they have specific theoretical and empirical problems. We, then, use neural network approaches (e.g., simple recurrent networks) in two implementations which overcome these problems. We demonstrate these findings by presenting a set of experiments which illustrate the failings of the general models and which highlight the utility of these neural network techniques. Areas: Cognitive Modelling / Machine Learning / Similarity We declare that this paper is neither currently under review for a journal or another conference, nor will it be submitted during IJCAI’s review period Similarity 2 O'Sullivan & Keane
Facial profile and maxillary arch dimensions in unilateral cleft lip and palate children in the mixed dentition stage

ABSTRACT Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the vertical and sagittal facial profile and maxillary arch width, depth, and length of patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and to compare them with healthy noncleft children in the mixed dentition stage (7–13 years). Materials and Methods: This study is conducted at Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia. UCLP group comprised 48 patients with nonsyndromic UCLP who have had the lip and palate repaired, whereas the control group comprised 48 healthy noncleft cases. The lateral cephalometrics measurements were used to determine the vertical height, sagittal depth of the face, and cranial base length and angle. Maxillary arch dimensions were measured on the study cast including arch width, depth, and length. Results: Vertical facial height and sagittal depth measurements showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the mean growth pattern in UCLP group. The anterior cranial base length (S-N) was shorter in UCLP children (P < 0.001), while Ba-N length had no significant difference (P = 0.639). Nasion-Sella Tursica-Basion angle was significantly higher in the UCLP group (P = 0.016). Dental arch width with reference to canine-to-canine and first premolar-to- first premolar distance was significantly larger in control (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Mean vertical and sagittal facial dimensions in the UCLP children who do not undergo orthodontic treatment are significantly lesser in all directions of growth than healthy noncleft children. The maxillary dental arch had a normal depth but constricted in width and arch length.
The effect of pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg position on respiratory mechanics during pelviscopic surgery

Background Conventional pelviscopic surgery requires pneumoperitoneum with CO2 gas insufflation and lithotomy-Trendelenburg position. Pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg position may influence intraoperative respiratory mechanics in anesthetic management. This study was conducted to investigate the influence of pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg position on respiratory compliance and ventilation pressure. Methods Twenty-five patients scheduled for elective gynecologic laparoscopy were evaluated. The patients had no preexisting lung or heart disease or pathologic lung function. Conventional general anesthesia with thiopental sodium, lidocaine, rocuronium, and sevoflurane was administered. The peak inspiratory pressure, plateau pressure, and end-tidal CO2 were measured before and after creation of pneumoperitoneum with an intraabdominal pressure of 12 mmHg, then after 10 minutes and 30 minutes in the 20° Trendelenburg position, and after deflation of pneumoperitoneum. The dynamic lung compliance was then calculated. Results Following creation of pneumoperitoneum, there was a significant increase in peak inspiratory pressure (6 cmH2O), plateau pressure (7 cmH2O), and end-tidal CO2 (5 mmHg), while dynamic lung compliance decreased by 12 ml/cmH2O. Overall, the Trendelenburg position induced no significant hemodynamic or pulmonary changes. Conclusions The effects of pneumoperitoneum significantly reduced dynamic lung compliance and increased peak inspiratory and plateau pressures. The Tredelenburg position did not change these parameters.