Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fast Global Labeling for Real-Time Stereo Using Multiple Plane Sweeps

This work presents a real-time, data-parallel approach for global label assignment on regular grids. The labels are selected according to a Markov random field energy with a Potts prior term for binary interactions. We apply the proposed method to accelerate the cleanup step of a real-time dense stereo method based on plane sweeping with multiple sweeping directions, where the label set directly corresponds to the employed directions. In this setting the Potts smoothness model is suitable, since the set of labels does not possess an intrinsic metric or total order. The observed run-times are approximately 30 times faster than the ones obtained by graph cut approaches.
Proximity-based Protein Thiol Oxidation by H2O2-scavenging Peroxidases*♦

H2O2 acts as a signaling molecule by oxidizing critical thiol groups on redox-regulated target proteins. To explain the efficiency and selectivity of H2O2-based signaling, it has been proposed that oxidation of target proteins may be facilitated by H2O2-scavenging peroxidases. Recently, a peroxidase-based protein oxidation relay has been identified in yeast, namely the oxidation of the transcription factor Yap1 by the peroxidase Orp1. It has remained unclear whether the protein oxidase function of Orp1 is a singular adaptation or whether it may represent a more general principle. Here we show that Orp1 is in fact not restricted to oxidizing Yap1 but can also form a highly efficient redox relay with the oxidant target protein roGFP (redox-sensitive green fluorescent protein) in mammalian cells. Orp1 mediates near quantitative oxidation of roGFP2 by H2O2, and the Orp1-roGFP2 redox relay effectively converts physiological H2O2 signals into measurable fluorescent signals in living cells. Furthermore, the oxidant relay phenomenon is not restricted to Orp1 as the mammalian peroxidase Gpx4 also mediates oxidation of proximal roGFP2 in living cells. Together, these findings support the concept that certain peroxidases harbor an intrinsic and powerful capacity to act as H2O2-dependent protein thiol oxidases when they are recruited into proximity of oxidizable target proteins.
Visual responses of area 18 neurons in awake, behaving monkey.

Abstract : The mechanisms underlying effects of ionizing radiation on visual-motor tasks in combat are not understood but definitely involve some disruption of visual perception. The degree of involvement is not known and must be studied and quantified in animal models. It is possible to identify those parts of the central nervous system necessary for visual perception. Once these areas have been identified, their sensitivity to irradiation can be studied more precisely. Visual responses of area 18 neurons were studied in the awake, behaving monkey. Cells were divided into six different classes on the basis of their stimulus preferences and spatial characteristics. Orientation cells were sensitive to the orientation of elongated stimuli. Color cells had nonoriented receptive fields with spatially coextensive opponent color inputs. Direction cells preferred moving stimuli, giving the greatest response to movement in some direction and no response or inhibition to movement in the opposite direction. Spot cells preferred a properly positioned small spot of light and responded equally well to all directions of stimulus movement. Border cells responded best to a stimulus that filled an excitatory region without encroaching on a powerful suppressive flank. Lightinhibited cells had high maintained spontaneous activity that was reduced or abolished by light.
Quartz-Crystal Microbalance Immunosensor for Schistsoma-Japonicum-Infected Rabbit Serum

A quartz-crystal microbalance immunosensor (QCM) has been developed for the direct determination of Schistosoma-japonicum -infected rabbit serum. A self-assembled monolayer with carboxyl groups was first coated on a gold electrode of a quartz-crystal resonator by the spontaneous adsorption of 3-mercaptopropionic acid. Schistosoma-japonicum molecular antigen of 32 kD molecular weight was then covalently attached to the crystal surface. The QCM immunosensor was used to detect infected rabbit serum (IRS49-2000); a maximum titer of 1:800 was achieved.
Inside the “Pro-ana” Community: A Covert Online Participant Observation

A covert participant observation was conducted into the meanings of interaction in the “pro-ana” online community. Specifically, the researchers were interested in the kind of psychological support offered by such websites and by the beliefs of community members towards eating disorders and the processes of treatment and recovery. One of the authors joined a number of pro-ana sites in the guise of a plausible persona and experienced a variety of responses from community members, some extremely hostile, others very supportive, yet without ever being exposed as an interloper. These starkly different responses challenge the notion of a broad “pro-ana” philosophy, suggesting that the sites are best understood as local cliques offering temporary relief from offline hostility, but it is doubtful whether they can be said to possess any therapeutic value beyond the immediate online context.
Vasodilator Responses to Moderate Hypoxia after Submaximal Adenosine Injection or Coronary Occlusion in Isolated Perfused Guinea Pig Hearts

My objective was to observe if coronary vasodilator responses after bolus (0.2 ml) intracoronary injection of adenosine (1-5000 /IM) or after coronary artery occlusion (5-30 seconds) are modified over a range from mild to severe hypoxia [outflow oxygen tension (PO2V) = 119 ± 9 to 10 ± 2 (mean ± SEM) torr]. The vasculature of ten isolated, paced (240 beats/min), nonworking guinea pig hearts was perfused by the Langendorff technique with a fortified Krebs-Ringer solution at 37.5°C and at a constant pressure of 55 torr. Graded hypoxia was produced by randomly altering perfusate FO2 to one of five predetermined levels. Individually, maximal hypoxia, maximal adenosine injection, and 30-second occlusion increased vascular conductance by 98, 100, and 98%, respectively. At constant myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2), PO2V was inversely proportional to baseline conductance (r = 0.42, P < 0.01); during normoxia (PO2v = 119 torr) both log-dose adenosine concentration and occlusion period were directly proportional to peak conductance (r = 0.78, P < 0.01; r = 0.73, P < 0.01). Low doses of adenosine or short occlusions significantly shifted the conductance intercept to higher values but did not change individual PO2V vs. conductance slopes. Similar results were found in the relationship between PO2v and overflow volume after adenosine injection or occlusion. Moreover, both the excess volume flow with low doses of adenosine and the volume of reactive hyperemia were unaffected by PO2V when MVO2 was unchanged. As hypoxia became more severe and MVO2 decreased, reactive hyperemia decreased and the flow debt increased. This study indicates that adenosine or coronary occlusion produces additive, noninteractive coronary vasodilation in the presence of tissue hypoxia. One possible explanation for these results is that as conductance rises, the common receptors for endogenous and exogenous adenosine become increasingly saturated. Circ Res 47: 392-399, 1980
Get3 is a holdase chaperone and moves to deposition sites for aggregated proteins when membrane targeting is blocked

Summary The endomembrane system of yeast contains different tail-anchored proteins that are post-translationally targeted to membranes via their C-terminal transmembrane domain. This hydrophobic segment could be hazardous in the cytosol if membrane insertion fails, resulting in the need for energy-dependent chaperoning and the degradation of aggregated tail-anchored proteins. A cascade of GET proteins cooperates in a conserved pathway to accept newly synthesized tail-anchored proteins from ribosomes and guide them to a receptor at the endoplasmic reticulum, where membrane integration takes place. It is, however, unclear how the GET system reacts to conditions of energy depletion that might prevent membrane insertion and hence lead to the accumulation of hydrophobic proteins in the cytosol. Here we show that the ATPase Get3, which accommodates the hydrophobic tail anchor of clients, has a dual function: promoting tail-anchored protein insertion when glucose is abundant and serving as an ATP-independent holdase chaperone during energy depletion. Like the generic chaperones Hsp42, Ssa2, Sis1 and Hsp104, we found that Get3 moves reversibly to deposition sites for protein aggregates, hence supporting the sequestration of tail-anchored proteins under conditions that prevent tail-anchored protein insertion. Our findings support a ubiquitous role for the cytosolic GET complex as a triaging platform involved in cellular proteostasis.
Representing Semantics of Texts - a Non-Statistical Approach

This paper describes a non-statistical approach for semantic annotation of documents by analysing their syntax and by using semantic/syntactic behaviour patterns described in VerbNet. We use a two-stage approach, firstly identifying the semantic roles in a sentence, and then using these roles to represent some of the relations between the concepts in the sentence and a list of noun behaviour patterns to resolve some of the unknown (generic) relations between concepts. All outlined algorithms were tested on two corpora which differs in size, type, style and genre, and the performance does not vary significantly.
Potassium softens vascular endothelium and increases nitric oxide release

In the presence of aldosterone, plasma sodium in the high physiological range stiffens endothelial cells and reduces the release of nitric oxide. We now demonstrate effects of extracellular potassium on stiffness of individual cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells by using the tip of an atomic force microscope as a mechanical nanosensor. An acute increase of potassium in the physiological range swells and softens the endothelial cell and increases the release of nitric oxide. A high physiological sodium concentration, in the presence of aldosterone, prevents these changes. We propose that the potassium effects are caused by submembranous cortical fluidization because cortical actin depolymerization induced by cytochalasin D mimics the effect of high potassium. In contrast, a low dose of trypsin, known to activate sodium influx through epithelial sodium channels, stiffens the submembranous cell cortex. Obviously, the cortical actin cytoskeleton switches from gelation to solation depending on the ambient sodium and potassium concentrations, whereas the center of the cell is not involved. Such a mechanism would control endothelial deformability and nitric oxide release, and thus influence systemic blood pressure.
Current Status of Reproductive Management in Bali Cows in South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia

The objective of this study was to elucidate the current status of reproductive management of Bali beef cows in south Sulawesi Province,Indonesia. This study was conducted in Bantaeng Regency, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia. Purposive sampling was used to choose the location where the study was taking place with consideration that this region has potential place for Bali cows. Data collection both primary and secondary data was done through observation and interview to obtain both quantitative and qualitative data. The results of this study showed that reproductive management applied to Bali cows in this region was very low. However, knowledge of the farmers regarding reproductive management such as estrus and its signs were much better, although the time of insemination to the estrous cows sometimes was too late. Mating system of Bali cows in this area were two different methods; natural mating and artificial insemination (AI). To adopt AI technology, the farmers should follow the standard operation of this technology. This study also showed that most of the farmers had good knowledge about estrus synchronization; however, they are still having difficulty to obtain or to access this technology, especially the price of the hormones used for estrus synchronization.
Gender Identity, Leisure Identity, and Leisure Participation

Abstract We adapted identity theory to explore relationships between gender identity, leisure identity, and leisure participation. Based upon the premise of identity theory, we hypothesized that the intensity of participation in recreational golf would be predicted by their gender identity (masculine/feminine) and leisure-related identity of “golfer. ” Our analyses explored these relationships among men and women golfers. Our data offered partial support for our hypothesized model. For men, masculine identity had both direct and indirect effects on golf participation- partially mediated by “golfer” identity. Alternately, for women, masculine identity indirectly influenced leisure participation, also mediated by “golfer” identity. These findings provide insight on the utility of identity theory for understanding leisure behavior, in general, and the influence of gender on leisure, in particular.
Reduced CSF p-Tau181 to Tau ratio is a biomarker for FTLD-TDP

Objectives: To validate the ability of candidate CSF biomarkers to distinguish between the 2 main forms of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), FTLD with TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) inclusions (FTLD-TDP) and FTLD with Tau inclusions (FTLD-Tau). Methods: Antemortem CSF samples were collected from 30 patients with FTLD in a single-center validation cohort, and CSF levels of 5 putative FTLD-TDP biomarkers as well as levels of total Tau (t-Tau) and Tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (p-Tau181) were measured using independent assays. Biomarkers most associated with FTLD-TDP were then tested in a separate 2-center validation cohort composed of subjects with FTLD-TDP, FTLD-Tau, Alzheimer disease (AD), and cognitively normal subjects. The sensitivity and specificity of FTLD-TDP biomarkers were determined. Results: In the first validation cohort, FTLD-TDP cases had decreased levels of p-Tau181 and interleukin-23, and increased Fas. Reduced ratio of p-Tau181 to t-Tau (p/t-Tau) was the strongest predictor of FTLD-TDP pathology. Analysis in the second validation cohort showed CSF p/t-Tau ratio <0.37 to distinguish FTLD-TDP from FTLD-Tau, AD, and healthy seniors with 82% sensitivity and 82% specificity. Conclusion: A reduced CSF p/t-Tau ratio represents a reproducible, validated biomarker for FTLD-TDP with performance approaching well-established CSF AD biomarkers. Introducing this biomarker into research and the clinical arena can significantly increase the power of clinical trials targeting abnormal accumulations of TDP-43 or Tau, and select the appropriate patients for target-specific therapies. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class II evidence that the CSF p/t-Tau ratio distinguishes FTLD-TDP from FTLD-Tau.
Saliency based joint topic discovery for object categorization

We present a novel approach of saliency based image categorization using topic model. In each image, salient foreground objects are discriminated from background scene by saliency detection. Then topic model is used to jointly discover topics of foreground and background. Our approach can categorize images in a completely unsupervised manner and achieve higher performance than previous categorization methods, especially for those images with similar foreground/background.
TIC10/ONC201 synergizes with Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibition in glioblastoma by suppression of Mcl-1 and its binding partners in vitro and in vivo

Glioblastoma is the most frequent primary brain tumor in adults. Current therapeutic options are sparse and the prognosis of patients suffering from this disease is grim. Abundance in intratumoral heterogeneity among different deregulated signaling pathways is a hallmark of glioblastoma and likely accounts for its recurrence and resistance to treatment. Glioblastomas harbor a plethora of deregulated pathways driving tumor formation and growth. In this study, we show that TIC10/ONC201, a promising compound that is currently in planned clinical development, along with Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibition by ABT263 yields a strong synergistic antiproliferative effect on pediatric, adult, proneural glioblastoma and glioma stem-like cells. On the molecular level, treatment with TIC10/ONC201 results in a posttranslational decrease of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family member, myeloid cell leukemia 1 (Mcl-1), through modulation of the chaperone Bag3 and the deubiquitinase Usp9X. Consistently, the combination treatment of TIC10/ONC201 and ABT263 required the presence of functional BAX and BAK to drive intrinsic apoptosis, but is surprisingly independent of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. Moreover, the expression of Noxa protein was required for efficient apoptosis induction by TIC10/ONC201 and ABT263. Importantly, the drug combination of TIC10/ONC201 and the BH3-mimetic, ABT263, led to a regression of tumors in vivo, without any notable toxicity and side effects. Overall, TIC10/ONC201 along with Bcl-2/Bcl-xL inhibition holds significant promise as a novel potential approach for the treatment of recalcitrant tumors such as glioblastoma.
Genetic influences on behavioral inhibition and anxiety in juvenile rhesus macaques

In humans and other animals, behavioral responses to threatening stimuli are an important component of temperament. Among children, extreme behavioral inhibition elicited by novel situations or strangers predicts the subsequent development of anxiety disorders and depression. Genetic differences among children are known to affect risk of developing behavioral inhibition and anxiety, but a more detailed understanding of genetic influences on susceptibility is needed. Nonhuman primates provide valuable models for studying the mechanisms underlying human behavior. Individual differences in threat‐induced behavioral inhibition (freezing behavior) in young rhesus monkeys are stable over time and reflect individual levels of anxiety. This study used the well‐established human intruder paradigm to elicit threat‐induced freezing behavior and other behavioral responses in 285 young pedigreed rhesus monkeys. We examined the overall influence of quantitative genetic variation and tested the specific effect of the serotonin transporter promoter repeat polymorphism. Quantitative genetic analyses indicated that the residual heritability of freezing duration (behavioral inhibition) is h2 = 0.384 (P = 0.012) and of ‘orienting to the intruder’ (vigilance) is h2 = 0.908 (P = 0.00001). Duration of locomotion and hostility and frequency of cooing were not significantly heritable. The serotonin transporter polymorphism showed no significant effect on either freezing or orienting to the intruder. Our results suggest that this species could be used for detailed studies of genetic mechanisms influencing extreme behavioral inhibition, including the identification of specific genes that are involved in predisposing individuals to such behavior.
Acamprosate treatment in a long-term community-based alcohol rehabilitation programme.

AIMS To evaluate the efficacy of acamprosate in maintaining abstinence in weaned alcohol-dependent patients. DESIGN A multicentre, double-blind, randomized control trial. Patients were individually randomly allocated to active or placebo conditions. Abstinence was assessed during a 6-month treatment period and after a 6-month follow-up period. SETTING A community-based, outpatient alcohol rehabilitation programme. PARTICIPANTS Two hundred and forty-six alcohol-dependent patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years were recruited immediately following acute, inpatient withdrawal treatment. MEASUREMENTS The primary outcome measure was self-reported abstinence from alcohol since the previous sessions at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months following the start of treatment, with treatment taking place for a period of 6 months. FINDINGS A significantly higher proportion of patients in the acamprosate group were abstinent after 3 months and 6 months of treatment. The percentage of patients with continuous abstinence at the end of the treatment period was almost double for the acamprosate group than for the placebo group (40.7% vs. 20.8%, respectively). Acamprosate significantly increased the retention of patients in the treatment programme. Six months after drug treatment ceased, the criterion of abstinence since the previous visit was reached by significantly more patients from the acamprosate group (43.4%) than from the placebo group (29.8%), but this difference was not statistically significant at the 3-month point after cessation of study medication. CONCLUSIONS Acamprosate may be a useful pharmacological compound for the long-term treatment of alcohol-dependence when applied in a community-based rehabilitation programme.
A Three-Dimensional HIE-PSTD Scheme for Simulation of Thin Slots

In this paper, a pseudospectral (PS) scheme is introduced into the hybrid implicit-explicit finite-difference time-domain (HIE-FDTD) method for solving the shielding effectiveness (SE) of thin slots. The maximum time-step size in this method is only determined by two spatial discretizations and the spatial discretization only needs two cells per wavelength. The 3-D formula of the method is presented and the time stability condition of the method is demonstrated. When this method is applied to simulate thin slots, high computational efficiency is obtained and less computer memory is used, which is demonstrated through numerical examples by comparing with the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method, HIE-FDTD method, and alternating-direction implicit (ADI)-FDTD method.
Plasma IgG to Linear Epitopes in the V2 and V3 Regions of HIV-1 gp120 Correlate with a Reduced Risk of Infection in the RV144 Vaccine Efficacy Trial

Neutralizing and non-neutralizing antibodies to linear epitopes on HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins have potential to mediate antiviral effector functions that could be beneficial to vaccine-induced protection. Here, plasma IgG responses were assessed in three HIV-1 gp120 vaccine efficacy trials (RV144, Vax003, Vax004) and in HIV-1-infected individuals by using arrays of overlapping peptides spanning the entire consensus gp160 of all major genetic subtypes and circulating recombinant forms (CRFs) of the virus. In RV144, where 31.2% efficacy against HIV-1 infection was seen, dominant responses targeted the C1, V2, V3 and C5 regions of gp120. An analysis of RV144 case-control samples showed that IgG to V2 CRF01_AE significantly inversely correlated with infection risk (OR= 0.54, p=0.0042), as did the response to other V2 subtypes (OR=0.60-0.63, p=0.016-0.025). The response to V3 CRF01_AE also inversely correlated with infection risk but only in vaccine recipients who had lower levels of other antibodies, especially Env-specific plasma IgA (OR=0.49, p=0.007) and neutralizing antibodies (OR=0.5, p=0.008). Responses to C1 and C5 showed no significant correlation with infection risk. In Vax003 and Vax004, where no significant protection was seen, serum IgG responses targeted the same epitopes as in RV144 with the exception of an additional C1 reactivity in Vax003 and infrequent V2 reactivity in Vax004. In HIV-1 infected subjects, dominant responses targeted the V3 and C5 regions of gp120, as well as the immunodominant domain, heptad repeat 1 (HR-1) and membrane proximal external region (MPER) of gp41. These results highlight the presence of several dominant linear B cell epitopes on the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins. They also generate the hypothesis that IgG to linear epitopes in the V2 and V3 regions of gp120 are part of a complex interplay of immune responses that contributed to protection in RV144.