Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Drosophila Stoned Proteins Regulate the Rate and Fidelity of Synaptic Vesicle Internalization

At an initial step during synaptic vesicle recycling, dynamin and adaptor proteins mediate the endocytosis of synaptic vesicle components from the plasma membrane. StonedA and stonedB, novel synaptic proteins encoded by a single Drosophila gene, have predicted structural similarities to adaptors and other proteins implicated in endocytosis. Here, we test possible roles of the stoned proteins in synaptic vesicle internalization via analyses of third instar larval neuromuscular synapses in two Drosophila stoned (stn) mutants,stnts andstn8P1. Both mutations reduce presynaptic levels of stonedA and stonedB, althoughstnts has relatively weak effects. The mutations cause retention of synaptic vesicle proteins on the presynaptic plasma membrane but do not alter the levels or distribution of endocytosis proteins, dynamin, α-adaptin, and clathrin. In addition, stn8P1 mutants exhibit depletion and enlargement of synaptic vesicles. To determine whether these defects arise from altered synaptic vesicle endocytosis or from defects in synaptic vesicle biogenesis, we implemented new methods to assess directly the efficiency of synaptic vesicle recycling and membrane internalization at Drosophila nerve terminals. Behavioral and electrophysiological analyses indicate thatstnts, an allele with normal evoked release and synaptic vesicle number, enhances defects in synaptic vesicle recycling shown by Drosophila shits mutants. A dye uptake assay demonstrates that slow synaptic vesicle recycling instnts is accompanied by a reduced rate of synaptic vesicle internalization after exocytosis. These observations are consistent with a model in which stonedA and stonedB act to facilitate the internalization of synaptic vesicle components from the plasma membrane.
Terminal-centric distribution and orchestration of IP mobility for 5G networks

Advances in radio access technologies and mobile terminals are fueling the growth of Internet traffic via mobile networks. The upcoming 5G era, with a new 5G radio technology and increased utilization of heterogeneous networking, will further accelerate mobile data usage. One of the pillars of mobile network architecture is IP mobility management, which is currently based on centralized data path management. In this article, we first describe the efficiency issues of the centralized approach. We then discuss multiple dimensions of distributing the mobility functions, and suggest how the mobile terminal can utilize them in orchestration for efficient communication over a 5G flat mobile network.
Performance Analysis for Channel Estimation Based on Common Pilot and User-Specific Pilot Schemes

In this paper, we describe the guideline for pilot design with the common pilot scheme and the user-specific pilot scheme. Here, channels for estimation with the common pilot scheme are non-precoded channels and channels with the user-specific pilot scheme are precoded channels in multiple input multiple output (MIMO) systems. Both two pilot schemes are included in the standards because two pilot schemes are used for different requirements. The analysis for frequency selectivity of channels presents that pilot sub carriers of the user-specific pilot scheme are densely allocated in the frequency domain, compared with the common pilot scheme.
Prospective observational study to assess value of prostate specific antigen as screening test for prostate cancer

Abstract Objective: To evaluate measurement of serum prostate specific antigen as a potential screening test for future clinical prostate cancer among healthy men. Design: Nested case-control study with stored serum samples collected from 49261 men with follow up using national death and cancer registration systems. Subjects: 265 asymptomatic men who subsequently developed clinical prostate cancer and 1055 controls matched for age, study centre, and duration of storage of samples. Main outcome measures: Distribution of concentrations of the antigen in men who developed prostate cancer and in controls. Results: Prostate specific antigen concentrations were significantly higher in men who subsequently developed prostate cancer than in controls. In the first three years after blood collection the median concentration was 23 times greater in cases than in controls of the same age at the same centre (that is, 23 multiples of the median). A smaller difference persisted thereafter; 4.0 multiples of the median 3-6 years after blood collection, 3.6 6-10 years, and 1.8 after 10 years. In the first three years the proportion of men who developed prostate cancer and had raised levels of the antigen (>/=12 multiples of the median) (detection rate or sensitivity) was 81% (95% confidence interval 54% to 96%). The proportion of men who did not develop prostate cancer but had levels this high (false positive rate) was only 0.5%. Conclusion: Prostate specific antigen measurement is a highly discriminatory screening test for prostate cancer among healthy men. In the general population, 60-74 year old men who had >/=12 times the normal median level would have about a 50% chance of developing clinical prostate cancer in the next three years. Measurement of this antigen is a good enough screening test to justify a randomised controlled trial to determine any reduction in mortality from prostate cancer.
Membrane waves driven by forces from actin filaments

Membrane waves propagating along the cell circumference in a top down view have been observed with several eukaryotic cells (Döbereiner et al 2006 Phys. Rev. Lett. 97 10; Machacek and Danuser 2006 Biophys. J. 90 1439–52). We present a mathematical model reproducing these traveling membrane undulations during lamellipodial motility of cells on flat substrates. The model describes the interplay of pushing forces exerted by actin polymerization on the membrane, pulling forces of attached actin filaments on the cell edge, contractile forces powered by molecular motors across the actin gel and resisting membrane tension. The actin filament network in the bulk of lamellipodia obeys gel flow equations. We investigated in particular the dependence of wave properties on gel parameters and found that inhibition of myosin motors abolishes waves in some cells but not in others in agreement with experimental observations. The model provides a unifying mechanism explaining the dynamics of actin-based motility in a variety of systems.
A Novel Function of DELTA-NOTCH Signalling Mediates the Transition from Proliferation to Neurogenesis in Neural Progenitor Cells

A complete account of the whole developmental process of neurogenesis involves understanding a number of complex underlying molecular processes. Among them, those that govern the crucial transition from proliferative (self-replicating) to neurogenic neural progenitor (NP) cells remain largely unknown. Due to its sequential rostro-caudal gradients of proliferation and neurogenesis, the prospective spinal cord of the chick embryo is a good experimental system to study this issue. We report that the NOTCH ligand DELTA-1 is expressed in scattered cycling NP cells in the prospective chick spinal cord preceding the onset of neurogenesis. These Delta-1-expressing progenitors are placed in between the proliferating caudal neural plate (stem zone) and the rostral neurogenic zone (NZ) where neurons are born. Thus, these Delta-1-expressing progenitors define a proliferation to neurogenesis transition zone (PNTZ). Gain and loss of function experiments carried by electroporation demonstrate that the expression of Delta-1 in individual progenitors of the PNTZ is necessary and sufficient to induce neuronal generation. The activation of NOTCH signalling by DELTA-1 in the adjacent progenitors inhibits neurogenesis and is required to maintain proliferation. However, rather than inducing cell cycle exit and neuronal differentiation by a typical lateral inhibition mechanism as in the NZ, DELTA-1/NOTCH signalling functions in a distinct manner in the PNTZ. Thus, the inhibition of NOTCH signalling arrests proliferation but it is not sufficient to elicit neuronal differentiation. Moreover, after the expression of Delta-1 PNTZ NP continue cycling and induce the expression of Tis21, a gene that is upregulated in neurogenic progenitors, before generating neurons. Together, these experiments unravel a novel function of DELTA–NOTCH signalling that regulates the transition from proliferation to neurogenesis in NP cells. We hypothesize that this novel function is evolutionary conserved.
Role of Chloroplast Protein Kinase Stt7 in LHCII Phosphorylation and State Transition in Chlamydomonas

Photosynthetic organisms adapt to changes in light quality by redistributing light excitation energy between two photosystems through state transition. This reorganization of antenna systems leads to an enhanced photosynthetic yield. Using a genetic approach inChlamydomonas reinhardtii to dissect the signal transduction pathway of state transition, we identified a chloroplast thylakoid–associated serine-threonine protein kinase, Stt7, that has homologs in land plants. Stt7 is required for the phosphorylation of the major light-harvesting protein (LHCII) and for state transition.
What drug policies cost: estimating government drug policy expenditures.

AIMS Many nations now spend large sums of government money to reduce drug problems. The size and composition of public expenditures aimed at reducing drug use and related problems (a drug budget) is a useful partial description of a nation's drug policy. This paper examines whether it is possible to estimate these sums in a consistent manner across nations. METHODS Past drug budget efforts in the United Kingdom and United States were reviewed. A new methodology was offered for estimation and used for estimates of expenditures in the Netherlands and Sweden. Using this methodology, expenditures were compared. FINDINGS In both the Netherlands and Sweden, with very different official drug policy rhetoric, enforcement expenditures dominate the total; prevention expenditures are a tiny share. The baseline estimates indicate that the Netherlands, by a variety of metrics (e.g. Euros per capita, Euros per problematic user), spends more on drug control, even enforcement, than Sweden but the range of estimates is such that this cannot be inferred with confidence. CONCLUSION Estimating total government expenditures on reducing drug use and related problems is feasible and can yield useful policy insights.
Endoscope-Assisted Lymphatic Microanastomoses: Concept, Results, Expectations, and Applications

Autologous lymph-vessel transplantation is one of the microsurgical procedures that should be performed with good magnification and visualization of the fine lymphatic vessels. It is the preferable surgical intervention in the authors' institute for patients with secondary lymphedema. Although this technique has been performed under the operating microscope, in this study, the authors have experimentally investigated the possibility of performance of lymphatic vessel anastomoses of the rat thoracic duct with the visual assistance of the endoscope, and compared it with the conventional operating microscope, not for its replacement, but as an alternative operating tool which may be preferred in certain situations. There were minimal technical differences between the microscope and the endoscope; however, they have recorded significantly shorter operating time and lymphatic vessel preparation time by using the endoscope. The endoscope seems to be a promising new tool in performing microsurgery, with more ease in handling and more physical comfort for the surgeon.
Robot therapy at facilities for the elderly in Kanagawa prefecture - A report on the experimental result of the first week

Robot therapy is expected to have psychological, physiological, and social effects similar to those of animal therapy. The therapeutic seal robot, PARO, is used in various facilities for the elderly, and its use spreading throughout the world. In previous studies, the effects of PARO were examined by various types of tests. However, the number of subjects in those studies was low. In this study, PARO was introduced in 10 facilities for the elderly, and 83 elderly individuals interacted with it under “the Nursing-care Robot Promotion Project” sponsored by Kanagawa prefecture, Japan. This paper reports the results of this experiment during the first week.
Improving At-Risk Learners' Understanding of Fractions

The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of an intervention designed to improve at-risk 4th graders’ understanding of fractions and to examine the processes by which effects occurred. The intervention focused more on the measurement interpretation of fractions; the control condition focused more on the part-whole interpretation of fractions and on procedures. Intervention was also designed to compensate for at-risk students’ limitations in the domain-general abilities associated with fraction learning. At-risk students (n = 259) were randomly assigned to intervention and control. Whole-number calculation skill, domain-general abilities (working memory, attentive behavior, processing speed, listening comprehension), and fraction proficiency were pretested. Intervention occurred for 12 weeks, 3 times per week, 30 min per session, and then fraction performance was reassessed. On each conceptual and procedural fraction outcome, effects favored intervention over control (effect sizes = 0.29 to 2.50), and the gap between at-risk and low-risk students narrowed for the intervention group but not the control group. Improvement in the accuracy of children’s measurement interpretation of fractions mediated intervention effects. Also, intervention effects were moderated by domain-general abilities, but not whole-number calculation skill.
A Content-Based Image Retrieval System Based on Hadoop and Lucene

This paper introduces a content-based image retrieval (CBIR) system based on Hadoop and Lucene. Hadoop is a kind of open source software with powerful parallelization and scalability and gradually becomes a popular technique for processing and storage of big data in recent years. We design and implement the system to overcome performance bottlenecks brought by computing complexity and big amount of data when constructing a CBIR system. We will present our ideas, designs and fruits of the system in this paper.
On Improvement of Anchor-Free Localization in Zigbee Sensor Network

A localization scheme for wireless sensor networks is presented in this paper. The presented scheme is an anchor free scheme, in which none of geometrical information is necessary for sensor nodes. Thus, only local interaction among sensor nodes is required for estimating the locations of the sensor nodes. This scheme employs the link quality indicator (LQI) and hop count between the sensor nodes for estimation. Our experiments involve the implementation of the proposed scheme on Zigbee sensor modules. The results of the experiments indicate that estimation can be successfully carried out for networks comprising four sensor nodes.
Iterative V-BLAST Detection with UCD Channel Decomposition

With availability of channel state information (CSI) at the transmitter and receiver, we can use UCD channel decomposition method for obtaining identical channel conditions for all layers in a VBLAST architecture. This leads to better performance than conventional SQRD VBLAST without need to layer ordering priori to detection. In this paper, we use UCD technique for iterative VBLAST detection and compare its performance to conventional SQRD VBLAST detection with the aid of EXIT chart analysis.
Trends, tools, and terminology

It has been said that most scientists would rather use another scientist's toothbrush than his terminology. In this issue's Matters of the Record, John Alroy suggests certain conceptual and methodological changes for the study of mechanisms, or dynamics, of large-scale trends, and also a revision of current trend-mechanism terminology. On the conceptual and methodological matters, Alroy's suggestions are good ones (with one important exception), and here I applaud them and explain further why they ought to be taken seriously. Predictably, however, I do not endorse (some of) his terminological revisions.
Towards Self-Learning and Fully Transparent UCE Prevention

A self-learning system for preventing unsolicited commercial or bulk e-mail (UCE or UBE) is presented. It acts at the source of each e-mail message and controls the traffic going out of a network, thus avoiding common drawbacks of standard spam filtering techniques. The system is based on a token bucket mechanism proposed earlier. In this paper, it is shown how to develop this approach into a fully transparent and effective UCE prevention system by introducing adaptivity and learning capabilities. The first central component introduced in this paper is a framework for quantitatively analyzing the business model underlying UCE, allowing for insights into the effectiveness of filtering in the given situation. The second one is a strategy allowing the system to adaptively and intelligently (re-)configure itself in order to achieve almost arbitrarily high levels of transparency, i. e. , to harm the business model underlying UCE without affecting regular e-mail users. Finally, a third component introduces adaptability for ensuring that only spam is blocked and that no regular mail traffic is affected.
Design patterns in Petri net system modeling

Petri nets are an established and well researched means for systems modeling and simulation, but its use in the engineering community is not as widespread as the applicability of the formalism would suggest. A reason for this might lie in the fact that there is no established concept for the concise presentation of reusable Petri net design knowledge. This paper proposes Petri net design patterns as a style of presentation of such design knowledge ranging from building blocks to architectural considerations. The template for description is introduced using a number of examples taken from our design experience.
CNN-aware binary MAP for general semantic segmentation

In this paper we introduce a novel method for general semantic segmentation that can benefit from general semantics of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). Our segmentation proposes visually and semantically coherent image segments. We use binary encoding of CNN features to overcome the difficulty of the clustering on the high-dimensional CNN feature space. These binary codes are very robust against noise and non-semantic changes in the image. These binary encoding can be embedded into the CNN as an extra layer at the end of the network. This results in real-time segmentation. To the best of our knowledge our method is the first attempt on general semantic image segmentation using CNN. All the previous papers were limited to few number of category of the images (e.g. PASCAL VOC). Experiments show that our segmentation algorithm outperform the state-of-the-art non-semantic segmentation methods by large margin.
Optokinetic motion sickness and pseudo-Coriolis effects induced by moving visual stimuli.

Pseudo-Coriolis effects (PCE) and optokinetic motion sickness are elicited by bending the head out of the axis of rotation of a circular visual surround when that moving surround induces the illusion of self-rotation. With respect to tilt sensation and vegetative symptoms, optokinetic PCE correspond to vestibular Coriolis effects (CE) that arise from similar head movements when the body is actually rotating. Quantitatively, PCE are of smaller magnitude than CE and saturate at lower velocities of stimulation (90-120°/sec). PCE, depending on the illusory sensation of self-rotation (circularvection, CV), share its prolonged time course after stimulus onset and termination, its relation to stimulus velocities and its dependency on stimulus area with predominance of the retinal periphery. Optokinetic influences on vestibular CE depend on the direction and speed of the moving visual stimulus and result in either inhibition or facilitation of apparent tilt and nausea.
Scalia: An adaptive scheme for efficient multi-cloud storage

A growing amount of data is produced daily resulting in a growing demand for storage solutions. While cloud storage providers offer a virtually infinite storage capacity, data owners seek geographical and provider diversity in data placement, in order to avoid vendor lock-in and to increase availability and durability. Moreover, depending on the customer data access pattern, a certain cloud provider may be cheaper than another. In this paper, we introduce Scalia, a cloud storage brokerage solution that continuously adapts the placement of data based on its access pattern and subject to optimization objectives, such as storage costs. Scalia efficiently considers repositioning of only selected objects that may significantly lower the storage cost. By extensive simulation experiments, we prove the cost-effectiveness of Scalia against static placements and its proximity to the ideal data placement in various scenarios of data access patterns, of available cloud storage solutions and of failures.
A 0.5–30GHz wideband differential CMOS T/R switch with independent bias and leakage cancellation techniques

A 0.5-30GHz wideband differential CMOS T/R switch is proposed with low insertion loss (IL), high power handling capacity and high TX-RX isolation. The independent bias technique is proposed to keep the transistors in ideal on/off mode to improve IL and power handling capacity. The leakage cancellation technique is introduced to cancel leakage from TX port to RX port with two match paths. The proposed T/R switch has been implemented in 65nm CMOS, and simulation results show that it achieves 1.2/1.9dB IL and 43/31dBm 1-dB compression point (P1dB) in TX/RX mode and 60dB TX-RX isolation over 0.5-30GHz.
State of the art: Signature verification system

This paper presents a review of some online/dynamic and offline/static signature verification system that have been proposed from year 2000 to 2010. There are numerous signature verification systems algorithms and methods been proposed in the last decade. This paper will mainly focus on discussing the signature verification techniques from year 2000 onwards to make a novice summary and conclusion for them.
Staphylococcus aureus haem biosynthesis: characterisation of the enzymes involved in final steps of the pathway

Haem is a life supporting molecule that is ubiquitous in all major kingdoms. In Staphylococcus aureus, the importance of haem is highlighted by the presence of systems both for the exogenous acquisition and endogenous synthesis of this prosthetic group. In this work, we show that in S. aureus the formation of haem involves the conversion of coproporphyrinogen III into coproporphyrin III by coproporphyrin synthase HemY, insertion of iron into coproporphyrin III via ferrochelatase HemH, and oxidative decarboxylation of Fe‐coproporphyrin III into protohaem IX by Fe‐coproporphyrin oxidase/dehydrogenase HemQ. Together, this route represents a transitional pathway between the classic pathway and the more recently acknowledged alternative biosynthesis machinery. The role of the haem biosynthetic pathway in the survival of the bacterium was investigated by testing for inhibitors of HemY. Analogues of acifluorfen are shown to inhibit the flavin‐containing HemY, highlighting this protein as a suitable target for the development of drugs against S. aureus. Moreover, the presence of a transitional pathway for haem biosynthesis within many Gram positive pathogenic bacteria suggests that this route has the potential not only for the design of antimicrobials but also for the selective discrimination between bacteria operating different routes to the biosynthesis of haem.