Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TERT promoter mutations in melanoma render TERT expression dependent on MAPK pathway activation

The mechanism of telomerase re-activation in cancer had remained elusive until the discovery of frequent mutations in the promoter of the TERT gene that encodes the catalytic reverse transcriptase subunit of telomerase. We investigated the regulation of TERT expression in melanoma cell lines and our results show that promoter mutations render TERT expression dependent on MAPK activation due to oncogenic BRAF or NRAS mutations. Mutations in the TERT promoter create binding sites for ETS transcription factors. ETS1, expressed in melanoma cell lines, undergoes activating phosphorylation by ERK at Thr38 residue as a consequence of constitutively activated MAPK pathway. We demonstrate that ETS1 binds on the mutated TERT promoter leading to the re-expression of the gene. The inhibition of ETS1 resulted in reduced TERT expression. We provide evidence that the TERT promoter mutations provide a direct link between TERT expression and MAPK pathway activation due to BRAF or NRAS mutations via the transcription factor ETS1.
Optical burst switching with burst access mode passive optical networks

In this paper, we investigate the integration of passive optical networks (PONs) with optical burst switched (OBS) networks. Owing to the decomposition of the operations between the PONs and OBS nodes, serious problems have been observed. One of them is data burst assembly problem. In some situations, burst assembly delay exceeding tens seconds may be required if the general purpose PON access schemes are used. To solve this problem, we propose to have the optical network units (ONUs) take over the burst assembly function from the OBS nodes. Large reduction of the burst assembly delay is obtained. Four ONU data burst scheduling schemes have also been investigated. We observe that a simple scheduling scheme is itself adequate in most situations.
Experimental evaluation of postural synergies during reach to grasp with the UB hand IV

In this paper, the postural synergies configuration subspace given by the fundamental eigengrasps of the UB Hand IV (University of Bologna Hand, version IV) is derived through experiments. This study is based on the kinematic structure of the robotic hand and on the taxonomy of the grasps of common objects. Experimental results show that it is possible to obtain grasp synthesis for a large set of objects both in the case of precision or power grasps by using only a very limited set of dominant eigengrasps. The tasks here presented are planned with an initial hold of the hand followed by reach and grasp phases, that are unique for each object/grasp combination, during which the robotic hand posture evolves continuously within a subset of the hand configuration space given by the two predominant eigenpostures. The paper reports the method adopted to define from experiments the postural synergies for the UB Hand IV and the results of the grasp tasks performed adopting the defined synergies.
The Anti-fibrotic Actions of Relaxin Are Mediated Through a NO-sGC-cGMP-Dependent Pathway in Renal Myofibroblasts In Vitro and Enhanced by the NO Donor, Diethylamine NONOate

Introduction: The anti-fibrotic hormone, relaxin, has been inferred to disrupt transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1/Smad2 phosphorylation (pSmad2) signal transduction and promote collagen-degrading gelatinase activity via a nitric oxide (NO)-dependent pathway. Here, we determined the extent to which NO, soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were directly involved in the anti-fibrotic actions of relaxin using a selective NO scavenger and sGC inhibitor, and comparing and combining relaxin’s effects with that of an NO donor. Methods and Results: Primary renal cortical myofibroblasts isolated from injured rat kidneys were treated with human recombinant relaxin (RLX; 16.8 nM), the NO donor, diethylamine NONOate (DEA/NO; 0.5–5 μM) or the combined effects of RLX (16.8 nM) and DEA/NO (5 μM) over 72 h. The effects of RLX (16.8 nM) and DEA/NO (5 μM) were also evaluated in the presence of the NO scavenger, hydroxocobalamin (HXC; 100 μM) or sGC inhibitor, ODQ (5 μM) over 72 h. Furthermore, the effects of RLX (30 nM), DEA/NO (5 μM) and RLX (30 nM) + DEA/NO (5 μM) on cGMP levels were directly measured, in the presence or absence of ODQ (5 μM). Changes in matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9 (cell media), pSmad2 and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA; a measure myofibroblast differentiation) (cell layer) were assessed by gelatin zymography and Western blotting, respectively. At the highest concentration tested, both RLX and DEA/NO promoted MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels by 25–33%, while inhibiting pSmad2 and α-SMA expression by up to 50% (all p < 0.05 vs. untreated and vehicle-treated cells). However, 5μM of DEA/NO was required to produce the effects seen with 16.8 nM of RLX over 72 h. The anti-fibrotic effects of RLX or DEA/NO alone were completely abrogated by HXC and ODQ (both p < 0.01 vs. RLX alone or DEA/NO alone), but were significantly enhanced when added in combination (all p < 0.05 vs. RLX alone). Additionally, the direct cGMP-promoting effects of RLX, DEA/NO and RLX+DEA/NO (which all increased cGMP levels by 12-16-fold over basal levels; all p < 0.01 vs. vehicle-treated cells) were significantly inhibited by pre-treatment of ODQ (all p < 0.05 vs. the respective treatments alone). Conclusion: These findings confirmed that RLX mediates its TGF-β1-inhibitory and gelatinase-promoting effects via a NO-sGC-cGMP-dependent pathway, which was additively augmented by co-administration of DEA/NO.
Determinants Of Manufacturing Sector Size In Sub-Saharan Africa (Determinanty Veľkosti Spracovateľského Priemyslu V Subsaharskej Afrike)

Sub-Saharan economies need structural changes that would enhance their productivity. In this regard, industrialization plays a key role. Using ordinary least squares regression analysis, the aim of this study is to test whether the general determinants of industrialization identified in previous studies explain variation in manufacturing share in GDP in sub-Saharan economies. The results indicate that manufacturing sector is larger in countries that pursue trade openness policies, are relatively less dependent on natural resources rents and have larger domestic markets. However, trade openness loses its statistical significance in a robustness check. (Subsaharske ekonomiky potřebuji strukturalni změny, ktere přinesou narůst produktivity prace. V tomto ohledu hraje klicovou ulohu industrializace. Cilem prace je s využitim regresni analýzy pomoci metody nejmensich ctverců otestovat, zdali obecne determinanty industrializace nalezene ve starsich publikacich vysvětluji variabilitu velikosti zpracovatelskeho průmyslu v subsaharských ekonomikach. Výsledky ukazuji, že zpracovatelský sektor je větsi v zemich, ktere jsou otevřenějsi mezinarodnimu obchodu, jsou relativně meně zavisle na rentach z těžby nerostneho bohatstvi a maji větsi domaci trh. Otevřenost mezinarodnimu obchodu vsak ztraci statistickou významnost při kontrole robustnosti.)
Perspectives for Fiscal Adjustment in Latin America

This chapter discusses the market’s perception of fiscal adjustment in Latin America. It reviews the key methodological features used to determine a sovereign credit rating and assesses the fiscal performance of a number of Latin American credits. Several fiscal indicators are reported. A sovereign rating focuses only on a government’s ability and willingness to repay debt on time and in full. Sovereign rating methodology is argued to be both quantitative and qualitative, incorporating an assessment of policy credibility, transparency and predictability. Fiscal policy plays a crucial role in credit rating analysis, including the fiscal authorities’ ability and willingness to adjust policy to shocks or changing economic conditions.
Applications of a finite-dimensional duality principle to some prediction problems

Some of the most important results in prediction theory and time series analysis when finitely many values are removed from or added to its infinite past have been obtained using difficult and diverse techniques ranging from duality in Hilbert spaces of analytic functions (Nakazi, 1984) to linear regression in statistics (Box and Tiao, 1975). We unify these results via a finite-dimensional duality lemma and elementary ideas from the linear algebra. The approach reveals the inherent finite-dimensional character of many difficult prediction problems, the role of duality and biorthogonality for a finite set of random variables. The lemma is particularly useful when the number of missing values is small, like one or two, as in the case of Kolmogorov and Nakazi prediction problems. The stationarity of the underlying process is not a requirement. It opens up the possibility of extending such results to nonstationary processes.
mechanism with alternative light-strand origins , not via a strand-coupled Replication of mitochondrial DNA occurs by strand displacement data

data Supplementary http://www.genesdev. org/cgi/content/full/19/20/2466/DC1 "Supplemental Research Data" References http://www.genesdev. org/cgi/content/full/19/20/2466#References This article cites 41 articles, 14 of which can be accessed free at: service Email alerting click here top right corner of the article or Receive free email alerts when new articles cite this article sign up in the box at the
On the instanton complex of holomorphic Morse theory

Consider a holomorphic torus action on vector bundles over a complex manifold which lifts to a holomorphic vector bundle. When the connected components of the fixed-point set are partially ordered, we construct, using sheaf-theoretical techniques, two spectral sequences that converges to the twisted Dolbeault cohomology groups and those with compact support, respectively. These spectral sequences are the holomorphic counterparts of the instanton complex in standard Morse theory. The results proved imply holomorphic Morse inequalities and fixed-point formulas on a possibly non-compact manifold. Finally, a number of examples and applications are given.
Design and development of a localization system for a sensor network in collective symbiotic organisms

The REPLICATOR project aims for developing self-adaptive and self-assembling organisms compounded of stand-alone robots. These robots can autonomously and dynamically dock with each other forming symbiotic structures. This system requires that each robot knows the position of the others. Therefore, this master thesis consists of the design, implementation and assessment of a low power and low cost localization system, based on the strength of the signal of the wireless communications protocol ZigBee. Furthermore, a dynamic ZigBee coordinator selection process was developed to separate the localization application and the system’s configuration. The proposed solution is a distributed, anchor-free, self-configuring, cooperative and concurrent algorithm. The localization is iteratively recalculated and updated using a Eucledian method. In order to reduce the errors produced by the fluctuations of the signal, a weighted approach, IIR and FIR filters; and a calibration process were implemented. It was found that the implemented localization system can achieve localization errors lower than five percent. However, these errors vary greatly depending upon several uncontrolled facts such as the environment in which the system is deployed and the radiation pattern of the antennas; and in addition, the errors increase exponentially with the distance.
Parallel world-gestures : nice to use , but difficult to learn

Gestures on an interactive surface are mostly hard to discover and therefore difficult to learn. That is the major drawback which should be resolved for allowing gesture-based input to develop into an easy and widely used input-technique. A well known gesture is in average faster, than moving to a small button. Gestures do not consume place of an interface and you can apply them on the whole surface. Nevertheless this is exactly the point, where the problem starts. As it is pointed out in the following, the main problem in using gesture-based input is this kind of parallel world. As they are not part of the graphical-interface and most of the time, especially in expert-mode invisible, they are very hard to discover. Overall in most cases gestures are not self-explanatory. That is why users are deterred from using an apparently not intuitive interface. To represent the opposite point of view many interactiontechniques have been explored to give feedback, to support learning and training of gestures, and to make the parallel world of gestures the level beneath the visible interface evident.
SVD-ICA: A new tool to enhance the separation between signal and noise subspaces

In multisensor signal processing (geophysics, underwater acoustic, etc.), the Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) is a useful tool to perform a separation of the initial dataset into two complementary subspaces. The SVD of the data matrix {x,i} provides two orthogonal matrices that convey information on propagation vectors and normalized wavelets. The constraint imposed by the orthogonality's condition for the propagation vectors introduce errors in the signal subspace. To relax this condition, another matrix of normalized wavelet is calculated exploiting the concept of Independent Component Analysis (ICA). Efficiency of this new separation tool using the combined SVD-ICA procedure is shown on realistic dataset.
Association between TGF-Beta1 (-509) C/T Gene Polymorphism and Tissue Degradation Level In Chronic Periodontitis: A Stereological Study

Background: The recent years has seen enormous research attempts in the study for genetic factors that may predispose individuals to periodontitis, as one of the most common chronic infectious disease in humans. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to determine the breakdown of interdental gingiva tissues in chronic periodontitis patients with TGF-β1 (-509) C/T polymorphisms. Patients and Methods: A total of 60 gingival samples, including 45 patient and 15 healthy subjects, were selected for this study. Following determination of TGF-β1 (-509) C/T gene polymorphism by Tetra primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR), the patients were divided to three subgroups according to their genotype (6 TT, 21 TC and 18 CC). After tissue processing, sectioning and staining, quantitative parameters were estimated by Cavalieri’s point-counting estimation. Results: The Volume density (Vʋ) of epithelium, connective tissue, collagenous and non-collagenous matrix and blood vessels had statistically significant differences between the control and chronic periodontitis (CP) groups (P 0.05). Conclusions: The results of the present study showed that TGF-β1 (-509) C/T is strongly associated with quantitative parameters of connective tissue constituents of interdental papilla in CP patients.
The Effect of Chlorogenic Acid Enriched Coffee on Glucose Absorption in Healthy Volunteers and Its Effect on Body Mass When Used Long-term in Overweight and Obese People

The results from a clinical study performed in 12 healthy volunteers with different coffee products containing glucose show that instant coffee enriched with chlorogenic acid induced a reduction in the absorption of glucose of 6.9% compared with the control. No such effects were seen with normal or decaffeinated instant coffee. In a second, comparative, randomized, double-blind, 12-week study we investigated the effect on the body mass of 30 overweight people, compared with normal instant coffee. The average losses in mass in the chlorogenic acid enriched and normal instant coffee groups were 5.4 and 1.7 kg, respectively. We conclude that chlorogenic acid enriched instant coffee appears to have a significant effect on the absorption and utilization of glucose from the diet. This effect, if the coffee is used for an extended time, may result in reduced body mass and body fat when compared with the use of normal instant coffee.
The First-Order Approach to Merger Analysis

Using information local to the premerger equilibrium, we derive approximations of the expected changes in prices and welfare generated by a merger. We extend the pricing pressure approach of recent work to allow for non-Bertrand conduct, adjusting the diversion ratio and incorporating the change in anticipated accommodation. To convert pricing pressures into quantitative estimates of price changes, we multiply them by the merger pass-through matrix, which (under conditions we specify) is approximated by the premerger rate at which cost increases are passed through to prices. Weighting the price changes by quantities gives the change in consumer surplus.
Seroprevalence of Acanthamoeba Antibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients by IFAT, Tehran, Iran 2007

Background This preliminary study was conducted to discriminate the prevalence of Acanthamoeba antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and healthy controls to analyze the correlation between these two groups. Methods From October 2006 to August 2007 a total of 121 serum samples from RA patients attending the Rheumatolgy Department at Shariati Hospital in Tehran were obtained and stored at -20°C until using by indirect fluorescent-antibody test (IFAT). RA was diagnosed according to the American Collage of Rheumatology classification criteria. The organism used in this study was isolated from various water resources in Tehran, Iran cultured axenically and then went on a PCR assay based on 18S rRNA to identify the genus Acanthomoeba. Indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) staining of serum samples was carried out to detect anti Acanthomoeba antibodies. Results In culture, out of 22 samples, 13(59%) were grown in xenic but only two in axenic medium. PCR amplified a 904bp fragment, specific for Acanthamoeba. Of examined serum samples, Acanthamoeba antibodies were present in 70 (57.8%) and 52 (41.2%), respectively. The highest titer of antibodies (1:320) was detected in one patient with RA. Conclusion Our study supports the hypothesis that some parasitic microorganisms can involve and contribute toward the development of rheumatoid syndromes.
Dictionary based encoding of cosmological images

The pioneering theory of Compressed Sensing (CS) provides a framework for ill-posed inverse problems and allows for the recovery of sparse signals from a set of measurements. Its applicability to astronomy datasets was recognised from its infancy. In this work, CS techniques are used to aid in the construction of an optimised dictionary that is capable of encoding cosmological images. A learning algorithm that automatically determines and adapts the size of the repository according to the provided training set, is presented. Use of the robust and fast StOMP ℓ1 minimization method is made for the recovery of sparse one dimensional signals. The results suggest that accurate reconstructions with very low residual errors can be obtained.
Challenges in Wireless BioSensor Based mHealth Development

Healthcare providers are facing growing challenges in patient diagnostics and information gathering due to inadequate infrastructure and insufficient number of healthcare professionals to perform such operations. The traditional way of patient information gathering is largely based on text and dependent on self-report surveys and infrequent doctor consultations. The proposed bio-sensor based frame work can improve remote diagnostics and healthcare information gathering using mobile device based bio-sensor systems. Bio-sensor based systems can be used to gather relevant multimedia health information and improve the quality of remote diagnostic both for ambulatory and continuous monitoring of chronic diseases. The paper addresses bio-sensor signal processing and secure communication of sensor signals based on next generation mobile technology and bio sensors, with the aim to facilitate the development of secure and innovative mobile health services.
Landownership in Eastern Germany Before the Great War: A Quantitative Analysis

The big landlords of eastern Germany have loomed large in the country's history, but the absence of official statistics on landownership has left their position and identity confined to folklore, without satisfactory quantification. This study, making extensive use of primary sources from the seven 'core provinces' of eastern Germany-the so-called 'East Elbian' region-establishes answers to questions pivotal to our understanding of pre-war Germany: who were the biggest landowners, both by area and by the tax assessment of their land? Which social groups held land? How much land did they own and where? How did this change, especially during the last decades before the Great War? Professor Eddie demonstrates that most of the inroads into landownership by the bourgeoisie had already been made by the mid-1850s, perhaps even before the mid-1830s. However, one of the most interesting findings in this study is that, despite rapid industrialization after 1880, there was a net exodus of the nouveaux riches from the ranks of large land owners. On the eve of war, the largest landowners were the Prussian state, the royalty, and the higher nobility. Meticulously researched and thoroughly documented, this book will be the benchmark for all future work in this area.
Sculpting the Intrinsic Modular Organization of Spontaneous Brain Activity by Art

Artistic training is a complex learning that requires the meticulous orchestration of sophisticated polysensory, motor, cognitive, and emotional elements of mental capacity to harvest an aesthetic creation. In this study, we investigated the architecture of the resting-state functional connectivity networks from professional painters, dancers and pianists. Using a graph-based network analysis, we focused on the art-related changes of modular organization and functional hubs in the resting-state functional connectivity network. We report that the brain architecture of artists consists of a hierarchical modular organization where art-unique and artistic form-specific brain states collectively mirror the mind states of virtuosos. We show that even in the resting state, this type of extraordinary and long-lasting training can macroscopically imprint a neural network system of spontaneous activity in which the related brain regions become functionally and topologically modularized in both domain-general and domain-specific manners. The attuned modularity reflects a resilient plasticity nurtured by long-term experience.
UKAI: Centrally controllable distributed local storage for virtual machine disk images

In this paper, we introduce a new distributed storage system for virtual machine disk images. A key concept of this storage system is that an operator has full control over which distributed storage nodes are used to keep a disk image. Unlike many other existing distributed file/storage systems, the proposed system does not automatically decide the location of distributed objects. This is important, especially when virtual machine infrastructure is deployed over many different geographical locations. Virtual machines are sometimes moved across hypervisors due to resource constraints or maintenance operations. When moving virtual machines, how efficiently the virtual machines communicate with their storage images is a serious issue. By acquiring full control of disk image placement, an operator can move related disk images to a nearer location. We present the design of the proposed system and provide performance measurements for our prototype implementation. The preliminary results show that the prototype code performs as well or better than existing virtual disk image serving methods under realistic operating conditions.