Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CXCL12/CXCR4 Axis Triggers the Activation of EGF Receptor and ERK Signaling Pathway in CsA-Induced Proliferation of Human Trophoblast Cells

Introduction Our previous study has demonstrated Cyclosporin A (CsA) promotes the proliferation of human trophoblast cells. Therefore, we further investigate the intracellular signaling pathway involved in the CsA-induced proliferation of human trophoblast cells. Methods Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to evaluate the regulation of CsA on CXCL12 secretion in human trophoblast cells. Immunofluorescence analysis and western blotting analysis were used to investigate the role of CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in the CsA-induced epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) phosphorylation in human trophoblast cells. 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU) cell proliferation assay was performed to analyze the involvement of EGFR and its downstream extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) signaling pathway in the CsA-induced proliferation of human trophoblast cells. Results Low concentration of CsA promoted the secretion of CXCL12, and recombinant human CXCL12 promoted the phosphorylation of EGFR in primary human trophoblast cells and choriocarcinoma cell line JEG-3. The inhibition of CXCL12 or CXCR4 by either neutralizing antibodies or small interfering RNA (siRNA) could completely block the CsA-induced EGFR phosphorylation. The CsA-induced proliferation of human trophoblast cells was effectively abrogated by the EGFR inhibitor AG1478 as well as the ERK inhibitor U0126, but not by the PI3K/PKB inhibitor LY294002. CsA promoted the activation of ERK in JEG-3 cells, which was markedly abrogated in the presence of CXCL12 siRNA, or CXCR4 siRNA, or AG1478. Conclusions CsA may promote EGFR activation via CXCL12/CXCR4 axis, and EGFR downstream ERK signaling pathway may be involved in the CsA-induced proliferation of human trophoblast cells.
A Learning-based Adaptive Routing Tree for Wireless Sensor Networks

One of the most common communication patterns in sensor networks is routing data to a base station, while the base station can be either static or mobile. Even in static cases, a static spanning tree may not survive for a long time due to failures of sensor nodes. In this paper, we present an adaptive spanning tree routing mechanism, using real-time reinforcement learning strategies. We demonstrate via simulation that without additional control packets for tree maintenance, adaptive spanning trees can maintain the "best" connectivity to the base station, in spite of node failures or mobility of the base station. And by using a general constraint-based routing specification, one can apply the same strategy to achieve load balancing and to control network congestion effectively in real time.
Flux estimation of induction motors using high-order terminal sliding-mode observer

This paper presents a rotor flux estimation method for induction motors based on high-order terminal sliding-mode observer. A terminal sliding mode manifold is designed for the observer and a control strategy is applied to stabilize the observer. A high-order sliding-mode mechanism is utilized in the observer controller to generate a smooth control signal, which can be directly used for the estimation of the rotor flux. The estimate of the rotor flux can be used for implementing the field orientation control of an induction motor. The effect of the equivalent low-pass filter in the high-order sliding-mode mechanism can be regulated according to the performance requirements.
Metadata Visualization with VisMeB

This paper presents a new framework for Metadata Visualization Systems called VisMeB (Visual Metadata Browser). It is based upon redesign ideas from the INSYDER System that were come under extensive evaluations. The aim of our approach is to improve the process of finding relevant information in an intuitive yet multifunctional way. We use a ScatterPlot in combination with a so called SuperTable for visualization. The two techniques are tightly coupled and present unique possibilities of interaction through the use of visual filters.
Effect of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) on Parietal and Premotor Cortex during Planning of Reaching Movements

Background Cerebral activation during planning of reaching movements occurs both in the superior parietal lobule (SPL) and premotor cortex (PM), and their activation seems to take place in parallel. Methodology The activation of the SPL and PM has been investigated using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) during planning of reaching movements under visual guidance. Principal Findings A facilitory effect was found when TMS was delivered on the parietal cortex at about half of the time from sight of the target to hand movement, independently of target location in space. Furthermore, at the same stimulation time, a similar facilitory effect was found in PM, which is probably related to movement preparation. Conclusions This data contributes to the understanding of cortical dynamics in the parieto-frontal network, and suggests that it is possible to interfere with the planning of reaching movements at different cortical points within a particular time window. Since similar effects may be produced at similar times on both the SPL and PM, parallel processing of visuomotor information is likely to take place in these regions.
A cognitive link adaptation strategy with differentiated responses on Wi-Fi System-on-Chip

The dynamic change of wireless channel condition causes poor Wi-Fi quality of service. To cope with the channel variation of wireless communication, the essential strategy for the physical layer with multi-rate capability is the link adaptation. However, because definite guidelines for rate changes do not exist, most link adaptation algorithms can misleadingly increase transmission rates. Therefore, we propose a cognitive link adaptation scheme, sensing link adaptation urgency and responding with differentiated rate control such as the long-term rate adaptation with a short-term rate drop. To evaluate the proposed scheme, we implement the link adaptation scheme on Wi-Fi System-on-Chip, applying the optimal HW/SW partitioning technique to reduce the SW processing delay from heavy operating calculation for the algorithm. The experiment shows that the proposed algorithm increases the packet arrival rate in a real Wi-Fi environment by reducing transmission failure due to wrong rate changes.
A Cepstral Domain Maximum Likelihood Beamformer for Speech Recognition

Recent work by Seltzer [1] indicates that classical approaches to beamforming, minimizing output power while enforcing a distortionless constraint, do not yield optimal results in terms of word error rate (WER) on speech recognition task. This problem can be traced back to the mismatch between the target criterion of classical adaptive beamformers, which is optimization of the signal to noise ratio, and the actual target criterion, which is the reduction of the recognizer’s WER. Following an approach by Seltzer [1] we therefore investigate the performance of an alternative error criterion, which attempts to optimize the beamformer weights, so as to improve the likelihoods along the recognizer’s Viterbi path for each utterance. This criterion matches the goal of lower WERs more closely and therefore leads to better recognition results.
Radio continuum observations of possible B-type stars in the halo of M 31 ?

We present Very Large Array (VLA) 5 GHz contin- uum observations of six point sources towards the halo of M 31, which have featureless optical spectra and magnitudes ranging from V =21.5-22.2, in order to determine whether these objects are BL Lacs. No radio emission coincident with the optical po- sitions is detected to a 5 noise level of between 0.08 and 0.11 mJy. The resulting upper limits to the two-point radio-to-optical spectral indexes from 5 GHz to 2500 ˚ A( RO) are less than 0.30 for all of the sample. These observations make it highly likely that these objects are not BL Lacs, and hence strengthens the case that they are normal B-type stars in the halo of M 31.
Effect of Polyethylene Glycol on the Formation of Magnetic Nanoparticles Synthesized by Magnetospirillum magnetotacticum MS-1

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) synthesize intracellular magnetic nanocrystals called magnetosomes, which are composed of either magnetite (Fe3O4) or greigite (Fe3S4) and covered with lipid membranes. The production of magnetosomes is achieved by the biomineralization process with strict control over the formation of magnetosome membrane vesicles, uptake and transport of iron ions, and synthesis of mature crystals. These magnetosomes have high potential for both biotechnological and nanotechnological applications, but it is still extremely difficult to grow MTB and produce a large amount of magnetosomes under the conventional cultural conditions. Here, we investigate as a first attempt the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) added to the culture medium on the increase in the yield of magnetosomes formed in Magnetospirillum magnetotacticum MS-1. We find that the yield of the formation of magnetosomes can be increased up to approximately 130 % by adding PEG200 to the culture medium. We also measure the magnetization of the magnetosomes and find that the magnetosomes possess soft ferromagnetic characteristics and the saturation mass magnetization is increased by 7 %.
Management of large amounts of data in interactive building walkthroughs

Management of Large Amounts of Data in Interactive Building Walkthroughs Thomas A. Funkhouser, Carlo H. Zquin and Seth J. Teller University of California at Berkeley* We describe techniques for managing large amounts of data during an interactive walkthrough of an architectural model. These techniques are based on a spatial subdivision, visibility analysis, and a display database containing objects described at multiple levels of detail. In each frame of the walkthrough, we compute a set of objects to render, i.e. those potentially visible from the observer’s viewpoint, and a set of objects to swap into memory, i.e. those that might become visible in the near future. We choose an appropriate level of detail at which to store and to render each object, possibly using very simple representations for objects that appear small to the observer, thereby saving space and time. Using these techniques, we cull away large portions of the model that are irrelevant from the observer’s viewpoint, and thereby achieve interactive frame rates. CR
Lateral Periodontal Cyst: a Case Report and Literature Review

ABSTRACT Background The lateral periodontal cyst is considered a developmental odontogenic cyst with unusual occurrence. In most cases it is preliminary diagnosed as a radiographic finding, presenting as well circumscribed or as a round or teardrop-shaped radiolucent area. Due to its location it can easily be misdiagnosed as a lesion of endodontic origin. Final diagnosis should be based on histopatological examination. The purpose of this paper is to report a classic case of lateral periodontal cyst located in the anterior region of mandible and to review the relevant literature which describes the clinical, radiological and histopathological features of lateral periodontal cysts. Methods A 50 years female patient complained of an asymptomatic gingival swelling in the region between the left mandibular lateral incisor and canine. Radiographic examination revealed a well circumscribed radiolucency with approximately 0.5 cm diameter with a radiopaque margin between the roots of the left mandibular lateral incisor and canine. The adjacent teeth had vital pulp. Results A total enucleation of the lesion was performed, and intraoperative examination showed a single lesion with no communication between the cyst's cavity and the oral environment. Histological examination revealed that the lesion was "lateral periodontal cyst of developmental origin". There was no recurrence or complications for 24 months follow-up. Conclusions The lateral periodontal cyst can be considered in the differential diagnosis when a radioloucent lesion appears adjacent to the roots of vital teeth. The treatment of choice is surgical removal and subsequent histological evaluation to confirm the diagnosis. Relapses are infrequent.
Peran trait mindfulness terhadap kesejahteraan psikologis pada lansia

Memasuki masa lansia, individu mengalami banyak perubahan pada kondisi fisik, sosial, spiritual dan psikologisnya. Lansia yang tidak siap dengan perubahan tersebut akan rentan terhadap stres. Kondisi yang demikian dapat menurunkan kesejahteraan psikologis (psychological well-being) pada lansia. Untuk menangani permasalahan tersebut, lansia perlu mengembangkan sifat mindfulness (kemampuan untuk berfokus pada apa yang terjadi saat ini) didalam dirinya. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melihat apakah trait mindfulness berperan secara signifikan terhadap kesejahteraan psikologis pada lansia. Sampel penelitian ialah orang-orang yang sudah tidak bekerja dan berdomisili di wilayah Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, dan Bekasi (n = 120). Penelitian ini menggunakan adaptasi skala Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire untuk mengukur trait mindfulness dan Scale of Psychological Well Being untuk mengukur kesejahteraan psikologis. Hasil analisis regresi ganda menunjukkan empat dari lima dimensi trait mindfulnessberperan signifikan terhadap beberapa dimensi kesejahteraan psikologis. Dimensi-dimensi dari trait mindfulness tersebut yaitu acting with awareness, describing, non-reactivity, dan non-judging. Sementara itu, dimensi lainnya yang tidak berperan adalah observing.
Recognising and promoting collaboration in an online asynchronous discussion

This paper reports on a study involving the identification and measurement of collaboration in an online asynchronous discussion (OAD). A conceptual framework served for the development of a model which conceptualises collaboration on a continuum of processes that move from social presence to production of an artefact. From this model, a preliminary instrument with six processes was developed. Through application of the instrument to an OAD, the instrument was further developed with indicators added for each process. Use of the instrument to analyse an OAD showed that it is effective for gaining insight into collaborative processes in which discussants in an OAD do or do not engage. Use of the instrument in other contexts would test and potentially strengthen its reliability and provide further insight into the collaborative processes in which individuals engage in OADs. Analysis of an OAD using the instrument revealed that participants engaged primarily in processes related to social presence and articulating individual perspectives, and did not reach a stage of sharing goals and producing shared artefacts. The results suggest that the higher-level processes related to collaboration in an OAD may need to be more explicitly and effectively promoted in order to counteract a tendency on the part of participants to remain at the level of individual rather than group or collaborative effort.
Homology and hominid phylogeny: Problems and potential solutions

This paper addresses the problem of how to reconstruct accurately the hominid evolutionary tree from skeletal remains. Few would disagree that DNA is generally better than bone as a source of data for assessing phylogenetic relationships. To be sure, DNA base pairs present their own special headaches for phylogenetic reconstruction,1 not the least of which is that only four possible characters exist at any locus. But base pairs satisfy all the criteria for good phylogenetic data (see Box 1): By definition, they are discrete, heritable, quantifiable, and natural units of phylogenetic information that pass directly from ancestor to descendant. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
65-Hypertext Atlas of Speech Sounds

We present a project concerning phonetics teaching and learning. The user will have at his/her disposal a computerized text book with hypertext links with a speech data base, whose samples are directly accessible by a speech signal editor, Snorri. The link between the explanatory text book, the data base and Snorri allows the teacher to illustrate each statement of the course. Among the main functions of Snorri, we can mention editing spectrogram calculation, visualisation of spectral slices, formant tracking, projection of formant frequencies in the vocalic triangle, as well as the display of the variation of the fundamental frequency. The user can record his/her own voice and compare it with a model. Of particular interest for the teacher is the possibility to store results in the form of ascii text files, search for specific sequences of phonemes and specific coarticulatory phenomena such as devoicing, nasalisation. in the data base, and store them in a new speech file.
The Effects of School Start Time on Educational Outcomes: Evidence from the 9 O’clock Attendance Policy in South Korea

Abstract This study estimates the effects of school start time on sleep time, time use, and educational achievement of high school students. Gyeonggi province, the largest province in South Korea, has implemented the 9 O’clock Attendance Policy, which has delayed school start times to 9:00 AM since September 2014. Changes in the above outcomes before and after the policy implementation are compared between Gyeonggi and other provinces which do not implement the policy. The difference-in-differences estimation results show that the policy increases sleep time, and this is mainly from delayed wake-up time. The policy also reduces adolescents’ time use for computer games. The estimation results using administrative national exam data show that the 9 O’clock Attendance Policy does not significantly affect academic achievement.
Parental empowerment and child behavioural problems during youth care involvement

The aim of this study was to examine changes in parental empowerment and child behavioural problems during a period of youth care and how changes are related to the kind of services provided. We compared a preservation service that was family‐centred (FCS) with out‐of‐home services that were primarily child‐centred (CCS). The sample consisted of 621 families who were supported by FCS (n = 434) or CCS (n = 137). Information about parental empowerment and child behavioural problems was gathered at the start and end of youth care. Significant changes during treatment were identified with t tests and effect sizes. Significant improvements emerged on all empowerment scales for FCS but only on the behavioural control subscale for CCS. Moreover, significant improvements emerged on all child behavioural scales for both FCS as CCS. Cross‐lagged analysis showed that the kind of service, in favour of FCS, predicted parental empowerment but not child behavioural problems. Parental empowerment and child behavioural problems were negatively related. This paper discusses the potential for parental empowerment and FCS elements in CCS out‐of‐home care and the need for follow‐up research on this subject.
Improved HNM-Based Vocoder for Statistical Synthesizers

Statistical parametric synthesizers have achieved very good performance scores during the last years. Nevertheless, as they require the use of vocoders to parameterize speech (during training) and to reconstruct waveforms (during synthesis), the speech generated from statistical models lacks some degree of naturalness. In previous works we explored the usefulness of the harmonics plus noise model in the design of a high-quality speech vocoder. Quite promising results were achieved when this vocoder was integrated into a synthesizer. In this paper, we describe some recent improvements related to the excitation parameters, particularly the so called maximum voiced frequency. Its estimation and explicit modelling leads to an even better synthesis performance as confirmed by subjective comparisons with other well-known methods.
The Quest for the Good Life in Precarious Times: Ethnographic Perspectives in the Domestic Moral Economy

CAVR (Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation). 2005. Chega! Dili, Timor-Leste: CAVR. Das, Veena. 2007. Violence and the Descent into the Ordinary. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. Gusmão, Xanana. 2000. To Resist is to Win! The Autobiography of Xanana Gusmão with Selected Letters & Speeches, edited by Sara Niner, translated by Jose Luis Perestrelo Botelheiro, Ana Norunha, and Palmira Pires. Richmond: Aurora Books with David Lovell Publishing. Pinto, Constâncio, and Matthew Jardine. 1997. East Timor’s Unfinished Struggle: Inside the East Timorese Resistance. Toronto: Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data.
Automatic Emotion Prediction of Song Excerpts: Index Construction, Algorithm Design, and Empirical Comparison

Abstract Music's allure lies in its power to stir the emotions. But the relation between the physical properties of an acoustic signal and its emotional impact remains an open area of research. This paper reports the results and possible implications of a pilot study and survey used to construct an emotion index for subjective ratings of music. The dimensions of pleasure and arousal exhibit high reliability. Eighty-five participants' ratings of 100 song excerpts are used to benchmark the predictive accuracy of several combinations of acoustic preprocessing and statistical learning algorithms. The Euclidean distance between acoustic representations of an excerpt and corresponding emotion-weighted visualizations of a corpus of music excerpts provided predictor variables for linear regression that resulted in the highest predictive accuracy of mean pleasure and arousal values of test songs. This new technique also generated visualizations that show how rhythm, pitch, and loudness interrelate to influence our appreciation of the emotional content of music.
First experiences of the German speechdat-car database collection in mobile environments

In SpeechDat-Car, speech databases for speech driven devices and services for mobile environments are collected for nine European languages. The German SpeechDat-Car installation was the first fully equipped platform within the project. It has served as a testbed for the recording software for the entire project, and as an opportunity to perform technical and organizational feasibility tests for the German data collection. The main results are: i) drivers feel comfortable with the prompts displayed on an LCD screen attached to the dashboard, ii) the audio-visual mode of prompting allowed the elicitation of speech even under difficult traffic conditions, and iii) the original synchronization protocol could be made more efficient by 20%, so that the 129 items of one recording session can now be recorded in 45-50 minutes.
Adaptive Traffic-Based Techniques For Live Multimedia Streaming

The growing number of multimedia stream transmissions done through the existing "best-effort"-based networks contributes to the increased traffic conditions. The latter affect the time-sensitive applications and especially the continuity of multimedia streaming. The paper presents some adaptive techniques for transmitting live multimedia streams over the Internet, regardless the overall traffic conditions. Their goal is to maintain the continuity of both the transmission and the remote play out processes by varying the streams' quality. A feedback-controlled multimedia system was built in order to allow for the deployment and testing of the proposed adaptive mechanisms. Some experimental results show that the continuity has been maintained even in highly changing network conditions.