Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thrombospondins 1 and 2 are important for afferent synapse formation and function in the inner ear

Thrombospondins (TSPs) constitute a family of secreted extracellular matrix proteins that have been shown to be involved in the formation of synapses in the central nervous system. In this study, we show that TSP1 and TSP2 are expressed in the cochlea, and offer the first description of their putative roles in afferent synapse development and function in the inner ear. We examined mice with deletions of TSP1, TSP2 and both (TSP1/TSP2) for inner ear development and function. Immunostaining for synaptic markers indicated a significant decrease in the number of formed afferent synapses in the cochleae of TSP2 and TSP1/TSP2 knockout (KO) mice at postnatal day (P)29. In functional studies, TSP2 and TSP1/TSP2 KO mice showed elevated auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds as compared with wild‐type littermates, starting at P15, with the most severe phenotype being seen for TSP1/TSP2 KO mice. TSP1/TSP2 KO mice also showed reduced wave I amplitudes of ABRs and vestibular evoked potentials, suggesting synaptic dysfunction in both the auditory and vestibular systems. Whereas ABR thresholds in TSP1 KO mice were relatively unaffected at early ages, TSP1/TSP2 KO mice showed the most severe phenotype among all of the genotypes tested, suggesting functional redundancy between the two genes. On the basis of the above results, we propose that TSPs play an important role in afferent synapse development and function of the inner ear.
A higher detection rate for colorectal cancer and advanced adenomatous polyp for screening with immunochemical fecal occult blood test than guaiac fecal occult blood test, despite lower compliance rate. A prospective, controlled, feasibility study

Immunochemical fecal occult blood test (FIT) is a new colorectal cancer (CRC) screening method already recommended by the American screening guidelines. We aimed to test the feasibility of FIT as compared to guaiac fecal occult blood test (G‐FOBT) in a large urban population of Tel Aviv. Average‐risk persons, aged 50–75 years, were offered FIT or G‐FOBT after randomization according to the socioeconomic status of their clinics. Participants with positive tests underwent colonoscopy. Participants were followed through the Cancer Registry 2 years after the study. Hemoccult SENSA™ and OC‐MICRO™ (three samples, 70 ng/ml threshold) were used. FIT was offered to 4,657 persons (Group A) and G‐FOBT to 7,880 persons (Group B). Participation rate was 25.9% and 28.8% in Group A and B, respectively (p < 0.001). Positivity rate in Group A and B was 12.7% and 3.9%, respectively (p < 0.001). Cancer found in six (0.49%) and eight (0.35%) patients of Group A and B, respectively (NS). Cancer registry follow‐up found missed cancer in five (0.22%) cases of Group B and none in Group A (NS). The sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive value for cancer in Group A and B were 100%, 85.9%, 100%, 3.9% and 61.5%, 96.4%, 99.8%, 9.1%, respectively. There was increased detection of advanced adenomatous polyp (AAP) by FIT, irrespective of age, gender, and socioeconomic status (Per Protocol: odds ratio 2.69, 95% confidence interval 1.6–4.5; Intention to Screen: odds ratio 3.16, 95% confidence interval 1.8–5.4). FIT is feasible in urban, average‐risk population, which significantly improved performance for detection of AAP and CRC, despite reduced participation.
Attention Estimation for Child-Robot Interaction

In this paper, we present a method of estimating a child's attention, one of the more important human mental states, in a free-play scenario of child-robot interaction. First, we developed a system that could sense a child's verbal and non- verbal multimodal signals such as gaze, facial expression, proximity, and so on. Then, the observed information was used to train a Support Vector Machine (SVM) to estimate a human's attention level. We investigated the accuracy of the proposed method by comparing with a human judge's estimation, and obtained some promising results which we discuss here.
Antisense to Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Facilitates the Apoptosis of Macrophages in Rat Vein Grafts

Background: The success of peripheral vein grafts is limited by intimal hyperplasia. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 has effects on cell proliferation, apoptosis and extracellular matrix synthesis. We have previously observed positive changes in vessel healing with antisense to TGF-β1. Methods: Adenovirus was used to transduce rat femoral artery vein grafts with antisense to TGF-β1 (Ad-AST) or the sequence encoding the bioactive form of TGF-β1 (Ad-BAT). Grafts were harvested at 1, 2, 4 and 12 weeks and formalin fixed for immunohistochemical studies of the cell markers proliferating cellular nuclear antigen (proliferation) and active caspase 3 (apoptosis). In situ DNA fragmentation assays were also performed to confirm active caspase 3 results. Results: Ad-AST treatment significantly (p = 0.05) increased apoptosis of macrophages inside the internal elastic lamina. In addition, Ad-AST treatment significantly increased the cellularity of the graft at early time points and reduced it at later time points (p = 0.01). Conclusion: The low levels of TGF-β1 in Ad-AST treatment promote apoptosis of macrophages and provide an environment that is more conducive to the proliferation or infiltration of cells that contribute to healthy vessels.
FUNCTIONAL SORBENTS FOR SELECTIVE CAPTURE OF PLUTONIUM, AMERICIUM, URANIUM, AND THORIUM IN BLOOD

Self-assembled monolayer on mesoporous supports (SAMMS™) are hybrid materials created from attachment of organic moieties onto very high surface area mesoporous silica. SAMMS with surface chemistries including three isomers of hydroxypyridinone, diphosphonic acid, acetamide phosphonic acid, glycinyl urea, and diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA) analog were evaluated for chelation of actinides (239Pu, 241Am, uranium, thorium) from blood. Direct blood decorporation using sorbents does not have the toxicity or renal challenges associated with traditional chelation therapy and may have potential applications for critical exposure cases, reduction of nonspecific dose during actinide radiotherapy, and for sorbent hemoperfusion in renal insufficient patients, whose kidneys clear radionuclides at a very slow rate. Sorption affinity (Kd), sorption rate, selectivity, and stability of SAMMS were measured in batch contact experiments. An isomer of hydroxypyridinone (3,4-HOPO) on SAMMS demonstrated the highest affinity for all four actinides from blood and plasma and greatly outperformed the DTPA analog on SAMMS and commercial resins. In batch contact, a fifty percent reduction of actinides in blood was achieved within minutes, and there was no evidence of protein fouling or material leaching in blood after 24 h. The engineered form of SAMMS (bead format) was further evaluated in a 100-fold scaled-down hemoperfusion device and showed no blood clotting after 2 h. A 0.2 g quantity of SAMMS could reduce 50 wt. % of 100 ppb uranium in 50 mL of plasma in 18 min and that of 500 dpm mL−1 in 24 min. 3,4-HOPO-SAMMS has a long shelf-life in air and at room temperature for at least 8 y, indicating its feasibility for stockpiling in preparedness for an emergency. The excellent efficacy and stability of SAMMS materials in complex biological matrices suggest that SAMMS can also be used as orally administered drugs and for wound decontamination. By changing the organic groups of SAMMS, they can be used not only for actinides but also for other radionuclides. By using the mixture of these SAMMS materials, broad spectrum decorporation of radionuclides is very feasible.
Using ocean models to predict spatial and temporal variation in marine carbon isotopes

Natural-abundance stable isotope ratios provide a wealth of ecological information relating to food web structure, trophic level, and location. The correct interpretation of stable isotope data requires an understanding of spatial and temporal variation in the isotopic compositions at the base of the food web. In marine pelagic environments, accurate interpretation of stable isotope data is hampered by a lack of reliable, spatio-temporally distributed measurements of baseline isotopic compositions. In this study, we present a relatively simple, process-based carbon isotope model that predicts the spatio-temporal distributions of the carbon isotope composition of phytoplankton (here expressed as δ13CPLK) across the global ocean at one degree and monthly resolution. The model is driven by output from a coupled physics-biogeochemistry model, NEMO-MEDUSA, and operates offline; it could also be coupled to alternative underlying ocean model systems. Model validation is challenged by the same lack of spatio-temporally explicit data that motivates model development, but predictions from our model successfully reproduce major spatial patterns in carbon isotope values observed in zooplankton, and are consistent with simulations from alternative models. Model predictions represent an initial hypothesis of spatial and temporal variation in carbon isotopic baselines in ocean areas where a few data are currently available, and provide the best currently available tool to estimate spatial and temporal variation in baseline isotopic compositions at ocean basin to global scales.
Solving Some Modeling Challenges when Testing Rich Internet Applications for Security

Crawling is a necessary step for testing web applications for security. An important concept that impacts the efficiency of crawling is state equivalence. This paper proposes two techniques to improve any state equivalence mechanism. The first technique detects parts of the pages that are unimportant for crawling. The second technique helps identifying session parameters. We also present a summary of our research on crawling techniques for the new generation of web applications, so-called Rich Internet Applications (RIAs). RIAs present new security and crawling challenges that cannot be addressed by traditional techniques. Solving these issues is a must if we want to continue benefitting from automated tools for testing web applications.
Novel, minimalist haptic gesture interaction for mobile devices

In this paper we describe the demonstration of a gesture input supported by tactile feedback. The application example we created is a bouncing ball game, where tapping the device in horizontal or vertical directions controls ball motion. Motivation behind the demo is to explore possibilities for haptic interaction that are suitable for mobile devices. Contrary to continuous gesture recognition applications, approach chosen here is an event based, minimalist gesture input supported by simple tactile feedback events.
Human fetal osteoblast behavior on zirconia dental implants and zirconia disks with microstructured surfaces. An experimental in vitro study.

OBJECTIVES To measure the lateral surface area of microgrooved zirconia implants, to evaluate the cell geometry and cell density of human fetal osteoblasts seeded on zirconia microgrooved implants, to describe the surface roughness and chemistry, and to evaluate the activity of human fetal osteoblasts seeded on zirconia microgrooved disks. MATERIALS AND METHODS This experimental in vitro study used 62 zirconia implants and 130 zirconia disks. Two experimental groups were created for the implants: 31 non-microgrooved implants (Control) and 31 microgrooved implants (Test); two experimental groups were created for the disks: 65 non-microgrooved disks (Control) and 65 microgrooved disks (Test). The following evaluations of the implants were made: lateral surface area (LSA), cell morphology, and density of human fetal osteoblasts seeded on implant surfaces. On the disks, surface parameters (roughness and chemistry) and cell activity (alkaline phosphatase - ALP and alizarin red - ALZ) were evaluated at 7 and 15 days. RESULTS LSA was lower for control implants (62.8 mm) compared with test implants (128.74 mm) (P < 0.05). Cell bodies on control surfaces were flattened and disorganized, while in the test group, they were aligned inside the microgrooves. Control group cells showed few lamellipodia, which were attached mainly inside topographical accidents (surface cracks, valleys, and pits). Test group implants presented cells rich in lamellipodia prolongations, attached to the inner walls or to the borders of the microgrooves and in the flat areas between the microgrooves. Cell density was higher in the test group compared with controls (P < 0.05) Surface roughness and oxygen content increased in test disks samples compared with controls (P < 0.05). Carbon and aluminum were reduced in disks test samples compared with controls (P < 0.05), and ALP and ALZ levels were significantly increased on test surfaces (P < 0.05) at both study times. CONCLUSIONS Within the limitations of this experimental study, it may be concluded that (i) Roughness is increased and chemical composition enhanced on the surface of zirconia implants with microgrooves. (ii) The LSA of microgrooved zirconia implants is greater and provides more available surface compared with implants of the same dimensions without microgrooves. (iii) Microgrooves on zirconia implants modify the morphology and guide the size and alignment of human fetal osteoblasts. (iv) Zirconia surfaces with microgrooves of 30 μm width and 70 μm separation between grooves enhance ALP and ALZ expression by human fetal osteoblasts.
BLUETOOTH and 802.15.3 performance in recorded BAN channels

This paper uses baseband physical layer models of Bluetooth and IEEE 802.15. 3 to analyse their performance in previously measured body area network channels. Analysis of these channels had shown that body shadowing and user motion lead to very variable channel conditions, while there is no indication that these effects were taken into account during the PAN standardisation process. As a result, the considered Bluetooth model fails to achieve communication in 3% of the measured channels, making it unsuitable for critical applications. Using more transmit power and a slightly more complex system, IEEE 802.15. 3 offers a more reliable link with higher throughput.
Confining membranes and dimensional reduction

The dual theory describing the 4D Coulomb gas of point-like magnetically charged objects, which confines closed electric strings, is considered. The respective generalization of the theory of confining strings to confining membranes is further constructed. The same is done for the analogous SU(3)-inspired model. We then consider a combined model which confines both electric charges and closed strings. Such a model is a mixture of the above-mentioned Coulomb gas with the condensate of the dual Higgs field, where the latter one is described by the dual abelian Higgs model. It is demonstrated that in a certain limit of this dual abelian Higgs model, the system under study undergoes naively the dimensional reduction and becomes described by the (completely integrable) 2D sine-Gordon theory. In particular, at finite temperature, this fact leads to the phase transition of the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless type with the respective critical temperature expressed in terms of the parameters of the dual abelian Higgs model. However, it is finally discussed that the dimensional reduction is rigorously valid only in the strong coupling limit of the original 4D Coulomb gas. In such a limit, this reduction transforms the combined model into the 2D free bosonic theory.
Going viral: flash crowds in an open CDN

Handling flash crowds poses a difficult task for web services. Content distribution networks (CDNs), hierarchical web caches, and peer-to-peer networks have all been proposed as mechanisms for mitigating the effects of these sudden spikes in traffic to under-provisioned origin sites. Other than a few anecdotal examples of isolated events to a single server, however, no large-scale analysis of flash-crowd behavior has been published to date. In this paper, we characterize and quantify the behavior of thousands of flash crowds on CoralCDN, an open content distribution network running at several hundred POPs. Our analysis considers over four years of CDN traffic, comprising more than 33 billion HTTP requests. We draw conclusions in several areas, including (i) the potential benefits of cooperative vs. independent caching by CDN nodes, (ii) the efficacy of elastic redirection and resource provisioning, and (iii) the ecosystem of portals, aggregators, and social networks that drive traffic to third-party websites.
Improved Sensitivity for Long-Distance Measurements in Biomolecules: Five-Pulse Double Electron–Electron Resonance

We describe significantly improved long-distance measurements in biomolecules by use of the new multipulse double electron–electron spin resonance (DEER) illustrated with the example of a five-pulse DEER sequence. In this sequence, an extra pulse at the pump frequency is used compared with standard four-pulse DEER. The position of the extra pulse is fixed relative to the three pulses of the detection sequence. This significantly reduces the effect of nuclear spin-diffusion on the electron-spin phase relaxation, thereby enabling longer dipolar evolution times that are required to measure longer distances. Using spin-labeled T4 lysozyme at a concentration less than 50 μM, as an example, we show that the evolution time increases by a factor of 1.8 in protonated solution and 1.4 in deuterated solution to 8 and 12 μs, respectively, with the potential to increase them further. This enables a significant increase in the measurable distances, improved distance resolution, or both.
Moral stress, moral climate and moral sensitivity among psychiatric professionals

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between work-related moral stress, moral climate and moral sensitivity in mental health nursing. By means of the three scales Hospital Ethical Climate Survey, Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire and Work-Related Moral Stress, 49 participants’ experiences were assessed. The results of linear regression analysis indicated that moral stress was determined to a degree by the work place’s moral climate as well as by two aspects of the mental health staff’s moral sensitivity. The nurses’ experience of ‘moral burden’ or ‘moral support’ increased or decreased their experience of moral stress. Their work-related moral stress was determined by the job-associated moral climate and two aspects of moral sensitivity. Our findings showed an association between three concepts: moral sensitivity, moral climate and moral stress. Despite being a small study, the findings seem relevant for future research leading to theory development and conceptual clarity. We suggest that more attention be given to methodological issues and developing designs that allow for comparative research in other disciplines, as well as in-depth knowledge of moral agency.
A Lower-bound on 2 Dimensionality Reduction

A lower-bound on `2 dimensionality reduction The main focus of this lecture is a lower bound on the dimension when doing dimensionality reduction with -distortion in `1 and `2. In particular, it will be shown that there exist graphs requiring Ω(log n) dimensions to embed with any fixed desired distortion in Euclidean space. The main technical result is: Theorem 1 (Alon [1]). Let v1, . , vn+1 ∈ Rd and 1/ √ n ≤ < 1/3 be given, such that 1 ≤ ‖vi − vj‖ ≤ 1 + for all i 6= j ∈ [n + 1]. Then the subspace spanned by v1, . , vn+1 has dimension d = Ω (
Opposing Activities Protect Against Age-Onset Proteotoxicity

Aberrant protein aggregation is a common feature of late-onset neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, which is associated with the misassembly of the Aβ1-42 peptide. Aggregation-mediated Aβ1-42 toxicity was reduced in Caenorhabiditis elegans when aging was slowed by decreased insulin/insulin growth factor–1–like signaling (IIS). The downstream transcription factors, heat shock factor 1, and DAF-16 regulate opposing disaggregation and aggregation activities to promote cellular survival in response to constitutive toxic protein aggregation. Because the IIS pathway is central to the regulation of longevity and youthfulness in worms, flies, and mammals, these results suggest a mechanistic link between the aging process and aggregation-mediated proteotoxicity.
The role of pairwise and higher-order correlations in feedforward inputs to neural networks

When presented with a task or stimulus, the ongoing activity in the brain is perturbed in order to process the new information of the environment. Typical characteristics of this evoked activity are (1) an increase in firing rate of neurons, (2) a decrease in trial-by-trial variability and (3) an increase or decrease in spike count correlations. Considering the importance of variability and correlations within the rate coding paradigm, it is crucial to understand the origin of these modulations. Different networks in the brain are typically connected through divergent-convergent connections. In a recent work, the correlations in the convergent connections of the feed-forward input have been found to be able to reproduce the above characteristics. This thesis expands this work by also considering correlations in the divergent connections. Through large-scale network simulations, we can show that correlations in the divergent connections have a significant impact on the output correlation coefficient and a small impact on the output firing rate. Moreover, we investigate the question whether keeping the pairwise correlations constant and varying the higher-order correlation structure can influence the network dynamics. We find that this influence is very small suggesting that higher-order correlations in the divergence connections carry only a limited amount of information. These findings can significantly simplify the analysis of neural data.
Automated analysis of Human Protein Atlas immunofluorescence images

The Human Protein Atlas is a rich source of location proteomics data. In this work, we present an automated approach for processing and classifying major subcellular patterns in the Atlas images. We demonstrate that two different classification frameworks (support vector machine and random forest) are effective at determining subcellular locations; we can analyze over 3500 Atlas images with a high degree of accuracy, up to 87.5% for all of the samples and 98.5% when only considering samples in whose classification assignments we are most confident. Moreover, the features obtained in both of these frameworks are observed to be highly consistent and generalizable. Additionally, we observe that the features relating the proteins to cell markers are especially important in automated learning approaches.
Intelligent M2M network using healthcare sensors

Machine to Machine (M2M), communication between the machines without or with the least-human involvement, is going to be an important part of life. Healthcare is one of the areas on which M2M is going to play major roles. At present time, healthcare sensors monitor patient information and notify remote doctors. However, if we can integrate more intelligence in healthcare sensors, then these can sense patient's emergency condition by themselves and can notify doctor before severe condition. In this context, we have developed intelligent mobile sensor agents in a healthcare scenario in a M2M context. This sensor agent can sense blood pressure of a patient and can notify remote doctor, with the help of an intelligent adapter and a manager in a M2M healthcare scenario.