Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
relationship between single-nucleotide polymorphism of matrix metalloproteinase-2 gene and colorectal cancer and gastric cancer susceptibility: a meta-analysis

Background: Recently, the published data on the association between matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) (C-1306T) polymorphism and colorectal cancer (CRC) and gastric cancer (GC) (gastrointestinal cancer) risk remained controversial. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the risk of CRC and GC and single-nucleotide polymorphism of MMP-2(C-1306T). Methods: Medline, Embase, Science Citation Index, and PubMed were thoroughly searched to identify relevant studies. Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess the strength of the association. Results: We performed a meta-analysis of 14 studies including 642 cases and 692 controls for CRC and 1,936 cases and 3,490 controls for GC. The result indicates that there is significant relationship between MMP-2(C-1306T) polymorphism and CRC risk in recessive model and codominant model (TT vs CC/CT: OR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.30–4.37, P = 0.005; TT vs CC: OR: 2.36, 95% CI: 1.29–4.34, P = 0.006). In subgroup analysis according to ethnicity, significant associations were found in Caucasians (TT vs CC/CT: OR: 2.87, 95% CI: 1.43–5.78, P = 0.003; TT vs CC: OR: 2.86, 95% CI: 1.41–5.80, P = 0.003), but we did not find significant evidence with GC in all genetic models, and in stratified analysis according to ethnicity, no significant risk was found in the subgroup too. Conclusion: This meta-analysis considered that the MMP-2(C-1306T) polymorphism is a risk factor for CRC susceptibility, especially in Caucasians, but it does not support any relationship to GC, and further studies are needed to explore the association.
Taurine chioramine , a product of activated neutrophils , inhibits in vitro the generation of nitric oxide and other macrophage inflammatory mediators

Taurine (Tan) is an exceptionally abundarn free amino acid in the cytosol of inflammatory cells and especially in neutrophils. Taurine protects cells from self-destruction during processes that generate oxidants. The major function of Tau in leukocytes is to trap chlorinated oxidants (HOC1). Taurine reacts with HOC1 to produce the long-lived compound taurine chioramine (TauCi). Previously, we have shown that other products of the neutrophil chiorinating system are able to modify functions of macrophages. In this study, we investigated in vitro the influence ofTauCi on the generation of inflammatory mediators by activated macrophages. We have found that TauCi inhibited the generation of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor a, and interleukin-6, but TauCi slightly enhanced the release of IL-la. The formation of nitrites by interferon-’y-activated macrophages was inhibited by TauCl in a dosedependent manner. Taurine chioramine also reduced the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA in macrophages, in a similar concentrationdependent manner. Although our experiments do not exclude a direct effect of TauCl on enzymatic activity of iNOS, the inhibition of iNOS expression seems to be the major mechanism responsible for suppression of NO formation. Finally, we discuss the biological role of TauCl in vivo. We suggest that at the site of inflammation TauCl works as a specific signaling molecule ofactivated neutrophils that coordinates the generation of inflammatory mediators in macrophages.J. Leukoc. Bin! 58: 667-674; 1995.
To recover a Courant algebroid from a given a quadratic Lie algebroid A with vanishing first

For any regular Courant algebroid, we construct a characteristic class à la Chern-Weil. This intrinsic invariant of the Courant algebroid is a degree-3 class in its naive cohomology. When the Courant algebroid is exact, it reduces to the Ševera class (in H DR(M)). On the other hand, when the Courant algebroid is a quadratic Lie algebra g, it coincides with the class of the Cartan 3-form (in H(g)). We also give a complete classification of regular Courant algebroids and discuss its relation to the characteristic class.
A PRE-META-ANALYSIS OF STOCK RECRUITMENT DATA FOR SCOMBRIDAE, ISTIOPHORIDAE AND XIPHIIDAE

SUMMARY In this study we present a pre-meta-analysis of stock recruitment data for pelagic species from a variety of oceans. The intention is to screen these data in order to specify a stock recruitment meta- analysis for Scombridae, Istiophoridae and Xiphiidae. A common stock recruitment relationship (i.e., Beverton and Holt) was fitted to all the data to allow a comparison of diagnostics in order to identify potential problems. RESUME Dans cette etude, nous presentons une meta-analyse prealable des donnees de recrutement des stocks pour les especes pelagiques provenant de divers oceans. L'intention est de filtrer ces donnees afin de specifier une meta-analyse de recrutement des stocks pour les Scombridae, Istiophoridae et Xiphiidae. Une relation stock-recrutement commune (c.-a-d. Beverton et Holt) a ete ajustee a toutes les donnees pour permettre une comparaison des diagnostics en vue d'identifier les problemes potentiels. RESUMEN En este estudio se presenta un meta analisis previo de los datos de reclutamiento de stocks de especies pelagicas de varios oceanos. La intencion es filtrar estos datos para especificar un meta-analisis de la relacion stock-reclutamiento para Scombridae, Istiophoridae y Xiphiidae. Se ajusto una relacion stock-reclutamiento comun (a saber, Beverton-Holt) a todos los datos para poder comparar los diagnosticos con el fin de identificar problemas potenciales.
Issues in conceptualization and assessment of acculturation

The chapter discusses conceptual and assessment issues in acculturation research in an attempt to integrate the growing literature in this field. We start with an overview of its historical roots and present a framework of acculturation variables, distinguishing acculturation conditions, orientations, and outcomes. Frequently observed sources of problems in the assessment of acculturation are outlined, such as mixing different variables into an overall score and using proxy and single-index measures. It is argued that the main unresolved issues in the conceptualization and assessment of acculturation are domain specificity, identifying common and groupspecific aspects, a further delineation of the meaning of integration, and testing attitude-behavior relations. An application domain of acculturation assessment, the immigrant family, is then discussed. Examining acculturation in the family domain can give more insight into the dynamic and multifaceted nature of acculturation. We conclude that an essential step, in order to advance acculturation research, is the development of a standardized acculturation instrument or at least a widely endorsed view on what should be included in such a measure. The use of the independent measurement of acculturation orientations (two-statement method) in a range of different domains and situations is a useful tool to achieve this goal. Conceptualization and Assessment 3
EMOTION RECOGNITION FROM FACIAL EXPRESSION BASED ON BEZIER CURVE

Human emotions are conveyed by different medium such as behaviours, actions, poses, facial expressions and speech. Multitudinous researches have been carried out to find out the relation between these mediums and emotions. This paper proposes a system which automatically recognizes the emotion represented on a face. Thus, a Bezier curve based solution together with image processing is used in classifying the emotions. Coloured face images are given as input to the system. Then, Image processing based feature point extraction method is applied to extract a set of selected feature points. Finally, extracted features like eyes and mouth, obtained after processing is given as input to the curve algorithm to recognize the emotion contained. Experimental results show average 60% of success to analyse and recognize emotion detection.
Structural interpretations of the Southern Uplands Terrane

ABSTRACT Bounded by sutures and demonstrating a unique geological history and structure, the Lower Palaeozoic rocks of the Southern Uplands–Down–Longford form a definitive Caledonian suspect terrane. The geological history of the final closure of Iapetus is encrypted in their structural fabric. Across the terrane, NW-younging turbidites predominate but graptolites invariably indicate the presence of younger sediments to the SSE. This fundamental Southern Upland paradox is soluble only by recognizing many strike-parallel faults, dividing the terrane into more than thirty tracts, each with its own variant of the stratigraphy and structure, and each having a lateral extent far in excess of what might be expected from the probable mechanical strength of the composing sediments. Structural interpretations of the terrane's unique tectonostratigraphic pattern are critically reviewed and the accretionary prism model, modified by strong sinistral transpression from the late Llandovery onward, is preferred. Transpression was apparently triggered when the converging continents of Laurentia and Avalonia made solid contact, so establishing a mechanically effective coupling of sialic crustal elements beneath and across the closing Iapetus ocean basin. The geometry of the terrane's internal structural fabric is analysed. Tentative area-balancing calculations indicate a crustal shortening from a basin width of at least 1,000 km to the current terrane width of 75 km. Continuing sinistral transpression was expressed in fault reactivation and the development of a major shear zone. Late Palaeozoic strike-parallel extension produced W-facing half-grabens and the associated rotation may account for the easterly plunge of most fold axes.
Resource DnaK Functions as a Central Hub in the E . coli Chaperone Network

Giulia Calloni,1,4 Taotao Chen,1,4 Sonya M. Schermann,1,5 Hung-chun Chang,1,6 Pierre Genevaux,2 Federico Agostini,3 Gian Gaetano Tartaglia,3 Manajit Hayer-Hartl,1,* and F. Ulrich Hartl1,* 1Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, 82152 Martinsried, Germany 2Laboratoire de Microbiologie et Génétique Moléculaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Université Paul Sabatier, F-31000 Toulouse, France 3Centre for Genomic Regulation and Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 08003 Barcelona, Spain 4These authors contributed equally to this work 5Present address: Micromet, Staffelseestr 2, 81477 Munich, Germany 6Present address: Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA *Correspondence: mhartl@biochem.mpg. de (M.H.-H.), uhartl@biochem.mpg. de (F.U.H.) DOI 10.1016/j.celrep. 2011.12. 007
Tai Chi synthesizer: a motion synthesis framework based on key-postures and motion instructions: Research Articles

Human spontaneous motions such as walking and runing are seldom described in detail. However, some well designed motions such as conditioning and rehabilitation exercises are usually described in detail and edited into exercise manuals for training purpose. This paper presents a novel framework for synthesizing new motions based on given motion manuals and corresponding motion capture examples. First, using text analysis method, a set of basic motion texts is extracted from exercise manuals and converted into text normal form. Then we introduce an annotation method to build the mapping table between basic motion texts and their corresponding motion clips in the given examples. To facilitate the search for proper motion clips, a multi-dimensional index structure based on posture parameters is proposed. Then a new motion with given textual description can be synthesized by converting the description sentences into a sequence of text normal forms and then concatenating the corresponding motion clips to form the desired motion. Moreover, to realize the smooth concatenation, we show that it can be achieved by finding an appropriate path in the proposed multi-dimensional index space. Several experimental examples are given to demonstrate the proposed method is effective in synthesizing desired motions according to given descriptions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Shrinker: Efficient Wide-Area Live Virtual Machine Migration using Distributed Content-Based Addressing

Live virtual machine migration is a powerful tool offered by virtualization technologies. However, current implementations restrict its usage to local area networks. Extensions to wide-area networks have been proposed with systems for transferring disk state and transparently migrating network connections. Still, wide-area live migration remains expensive to use because of the bandwidth bottleneck, especially when considering migrations of large clusters of virtual machines rather than single instances. Previous work has shown that VMs running identical or similar operating systems have a significant portion of their memory containing the same data. In this paper, we introduce Shrinker, a live virtual machine migration system leveraging this common data to improve migration efficiency between data centers interconnected by wide-area networks. Shrinker uses distributed content-based addressing to detect memory pages of the migrated VM that are already available on the destination site, removing the need to transfer these pages over a wide-area link. We have implemented Shrinker in the KVM hypervisor and present performance evaluation in a distributed environment. We show that it is able to reduce wide-area bandwidth usage by 30 to 40% and migration time by 20%.
RESEARCH ON CONSTITUTIVE MODEL OF MARBLE OF JINPING HYDROPOWER STATION UNDER LOADING AND UNLOADING CONDITIONS

A series of loading and unloading tests of marble from deep-buried diversion tunnel of Jinping hydropower station are carried out,which reveal that marble specimens have remarkable volumetric dilatancy before failure in both loading and unloading conditions.To describe the law of volumetric deformation of marble in the tests,a new constitutive model is presented based on modifying Weng′s model[13] of rock mass.Comparison between theoretical and test results indicated that the proposed model can describe the characteristics of marble volumetric deformation well.This model can consider the discrepancy of rock strength under loading and unloading conditions;and it can be used to describe unloading process from uniaxial compression stage;the proposed model is of high applicability.
Détection de rupture dans des signaux harmoniques à partir de la transformée en ondelettes discrète

The aim of this paper is to present and analyse a spectral changes detector in multicomponent piecewise stationary signals. The considered abrupt changes correspond to a abrupt removal at a given moment, of one of the frequency component along the frequency axis. Our approach consists in analysing the time scale plane according to successive cuts, at fixed scale, along the time axis, by reconstructing bande filtered signals from the DWT. A detector based on the adequacy with a modele of rupture, of the different filtered signals, allows to underscore the frequency jumps. A performance analysis is realized from syntetical signals.
Accessibility and socioeconomic activities location

This paper aims at analyzing to what extent changing accessibility affects the distribution of residential and economic activities in a region. The study is carried out by mean of empirical and modeling analyses. The case study is that of the Regione Campania, one of the 20 administrative regions of Italy. The empirical study consists of before-and-after analyses correlating the variation of zone accessibility to the variation of population and other economic activities (Commerce, services, etc) over a 20 years long period. The results of the analyses carried on show that the impact of accessibility on the location of certain economic sectors is negligible (e.g. for Public services, Wholesale), while it is significant for Residents, Retail, Private Services location. In the latter case, however, it is evident that there are other factors affecting such location choice even stronger than accessibility (e.g. housing prices, congestion of the urban system, and so on). In order to deeper investigate such issues, an integrated modelling framework simulating land-use and transport interaction is proposed. The results of the aggregated calibration of the model parameters are presented and discussed in the paper.
FORECASTED TRENDS IN CHANGES OF VEGETATION IN THE EUROPEAN PART OF RUSSIA IN CONNECTION WITH GLOBAL WARMING

The paper discusses connections between zonal boundaries of vegetation and productivity of forest stands and some climatic parameters. It also suggests mathematical-cartographic models of these connections. The models are used to forecast changes in the boundaries of the vegetation sub-zones and of forest stands productivity in the European Part of Russia and on the adjacent areas for 2046–2065 under one of the scenarios of global warming.
Physiological and morphological responses of mountain maple (acer spicatum l.) seedlings to light under different carbon dioxide concentrations, soil temperature and soil moisture regimes

2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS . 5 LIST OF TABLES . 7 LIST OF FIGURES . 9 CHAPTER 1: GENERAL INTRODUCTION . 11 PLANT RESPONSE TO LIGHT . 11 PLANT RESPONSES TO RISING ATMOSPHERIC CARBON DIOXIDE CONCENTRATION, SOIL WARMING AND SOIL MOISTURE . 12 THE AIMS OF THE STUDY . 14 REFERENCES . 16 CHAPTER 2: ELEVATED [CO2] AND SOIL WARMING CHANGE THE PATTERN OF PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF MOUNTAIN MAPLE (ACER SPICATUM L.) SEEDLING TO LIGHT. 27 INTRODUCTION . 27 MATERIALS AND METHODS . 30 PLANT MATERIAL . 30 EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN . 30 PHOTOSYNTHETIC LIGHT RESPONSE . 31 PHOTOSYNTHETIC CO2 RESPONSE . 32 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS . 32 RESULTS . 34 DISCUSSION . 38 REFERENCES . 43 CHAPTER 3: EFFECTS OF ELEVATED [CO2] AND SOIL WARMING ON THE MORPHOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF MOUNTAIN MAPLE (ACER SPICATUM L) SEEDLINGS TO LIGHT. 56 INTRODUCTION . 56 MATERIALS AND METHODS . 59 PLANT MATERIAL . 59 EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN . 59 GROWTH AND BIOMASS MEASUREMENTS . 60 STATISTICAL ANALYSIS . 61 RESULTS . 61 DISCUSSION . 70 REFERENCES . 74
Kinship verification from videos using spatio-temporal texture features and deep learning

Automatic kinship verification using facial images is a relatively new and challenging research problem in computer vision. It consists in automatically predicting whether two persons have a biological kin relation by examining their facial attributes. While most of the existing works extract shallow handcrafted features from still face images, we approach this problem from spatio-temporal point of view and explore the use of both shallow texture features and deep features for characterizing faces. Promising results, especially those of deep features, are obtained on the benchmark UvA-NEMO Smile database. Our extensive experiments also show the superiority of using videos over still images, hence pointing out the important role of facial dynamics in kinship verification. Furthermore, the fusion of the two types of features (i.e. shallow spatio-temporal texture features and deep features) shows significant performance improvements compared to state-of-the-art methods.
Removal of cyanobacterial toxins (LPS endotoxin and microcystin) in drinking-water using the BioSand household water filter

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 INTRODUCTION 4 CYANOBACTERIAL TOXINS 4 SLOW SAND FILTRATION 5 The BioSand household water filter (BSF) in Mozambique 6 MATERIALS AND METHODS 9 FILTER CONSTRUCTION 9 SAMPLING SITES 9 SAMPLING METHODS 10 Raw water 10 Filtered water 11 ANALYSES 12 Phytoplankton 12 Chlorophyll a 12 Microcystin 13 Lipopolysaccharide endotoxin 13 RESULTS 14 FLOW RATE 14 PHYTOPLANKTON 15 CHLOROPHYLL A 17 MICROCYSTIN 19 LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE ENDOTOXIN 21 DISCUSSION 24 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 29 REFERENCES 29
73. Forensic interviewers’ difficulty with invitations: Faux invitations and negative recasting.

An ongoing challenge for forensic interviewers is to maximize their use of invitations, such as requests that the child “tell me more about” details mentioned by the child. Examining 434 interviews with 4to 12-year-old children questioned about abuse, this study analyzed (1) faux invitations, in which interviewers prefaced questions with “tell me” but then asked a noninvitation, (2) negative recasts, in which interviewers started to ask an invitation but then recast the question as a whor option-posing question and (3) other aspects of questions that may relate to productivity independent of their status as invitations. About one fourth of “tell me” questions were faux invitations and over 80% of recasts were negative. The frequency of both faux invitations and negative recasts increased during the substantive phase of the interviews, and these were related to decreased productivity, increased non-responsiveness, and increased uncertainty. In contrast, use of exhaustive terms (e.g., “tell me everything”) and non-static questions (e.g., about actions) were related to increased productivity. The results suggest that training should teach interviewers when and how strategic use of invitations and other questiontypes can elicit specific types of forensically relevant information.
A new protocol layer for user space functionality

Evolution of the Internet user has brought attention to the lack of standards for ideal levels of user interaction. The core Internet architecture has not evolved much since its inception, and its user-driven limitations typically constrain one's personal computing infrastructure so that the goals of pervasive and ubiquitous computing are only incipiently achieved. We propose to consider the user's image, or user space, as a significant entity in the Internet model by introducing a new layer of protocols into the Internet protocol stack to support future usage in the Internet. We also present the Identifier/Interlocutor/Locator split architecture for flexible addressing. Standards for such architectures would provide generic user support across heterogeneous networks.
Effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma agonist treatment on subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of thiazolidinedione treatment on subclinical atherosclerosis progression in insulin-requiring patients with clinical characteristics suggesting type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Eligible participants (n = 299) were randomized within strata of baseline common carotid artery (CCA) intima-media thickness (IMT) (<0.8 mm, >or=0.8 mm) to 400 mg troglitazone daily or placebo for 2 years. A general linear mixed-effects model was used to compare the rate of change in CCA-IMT between treatment groups. RESULTS Overall, average rates of CCA-IMT change were not significantly different between troglitazone- and placebo-treated subjects (0.0030 +/- 0.021 vs. 0.0066 +/- 0.021 mm/year; P = 0.17). In the stratum of subjects with CCA-IMT >or=0.8 mm, troglitazone significantly reduced the progression of CCA-IMT relative to placebo (0.0013 +/- 0.022 vs. 0.0084 +/- 0.023 mm/year; P = 0.03). Fasting glucose, insulin, and HbA(1c) were significantly lower in troglitazone- versus placebo-treated subjects (P < 0.01). Whereas blood pressure significantly differed between treatment groups in the >or=0.8-mm stratum, there was no difference between treatment groups in the <0.8-mm stratum. CONCLUSIONS Insulin sensitization and reduction in blood pressure may be contributory mechanisms by which troglitazone reduced subclinical atherosclerosis progression in this cohort of well-controlled insulin-dependent patients with clinical characteristics suggesting type 2 diabetes.