Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hippocampal output area CA1 broadcasts a generalized novelty signal during an object‐place recognition task

Animals display an innate preference for novelty, spending more time exploring both novel objects and familiar objects in novel locations. This increase in exploration is thought to allow the animal to gather the information necessary to encode new experiences. Despite extensive evidence that increased exploration following spatial change requires the hippocampus, the pattern of hippocampal activity that supports this behavior remains unknown. We examined activity in hippocampal output area CA1 and one synapse upstream in area CA3 while freely behaving rats performed an object‐place recognition task. We found that the presence of novelty substantially altered activity in CA1, but not in CA3. During exploration of displaced familiar objects and novel objects in unexpected locations, CA1 place cells showed robust increases in firing rate. These firing rate increases persisted during sharp wave ripples, when place cell representations of previous experiences are replayed. Unexpectedly, increases in CA1 activity were not spatially restricted to regions of the environment that underwent change, indicating a generalized novelty signal. We suggest that hippocampal area CA1 broadcasts the presence of novelty, rather than signaling what is novel, and simultaneously becomes more plastic, allowing the integration of new information into previously stored memories. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
CORE: core-based synthetic minority over-sampling and borderline majority under-sampling technique

Class imbalance learning has recently drawn considerable attention among researchers. In this area, a rare class is the class of primary interest from the aim of classification. Unfortunately, traditional machine learning algorithms fail to detect this class because a huge majority class overwhelms a tiny minority class. In this paper, we propose a new technique called CORE to handle the class imbalance problem. The objective of CORE is to strengthen the core of a minority class and weaken the risk of misclassified minority instances nearby the borderline of a majority class. These core and borderline regions are defined by the applicability of a safe level. As a result, a minority class is more crowed and dominant. The experiment shows that CORE can significantly improve the predictive performance of a minority class when its dataset is imbalance.
Controlled deployments for wireless sensor networks

In wireless sensor networks (WSNs), the operation of sensor nodes has to rely on a limited supply of energy (such as batteries). To support long lifetime operation of WSNs, an energy-efficient way of sensor deployment and operation of the WSNs is necessary. A new controlled layer deployment (CLD) protocol to guarantee coverage and energy efficiency for a sensor network is proposed. CLD outperforms previous similar protocols in that it can achieve the same performances and guarantee full area coverage and connection using a smaller number of sensors. It can also ameliorate the ‘cascading problem’ that reduces the whole network lifetime. Finally, analysis and simulation results show that CLD can use fewer sensor nodes for coverage and also increases the lifetime of the sensor network when compared with the probing environment and adapting sleeping (PEAS) protocol.
Multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter ventilator-associated pneumonia

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) due to a multi-drug resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter is one of the most dreadful complications, which occurs in the critical care setting. Aims and objectives: To find out the incidence of Acinetobacter infection in VAP cases, to determine various risk factors responsible for acquisition of Acinetobacter infection and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Acinetobacter. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 endotracheal aspirate specimens from intubated patients diagnosed clinically and microscopically as VAP were studied bacteriologically. All clinical details and prior exposure to antibiotics were recorded. Results: An incidence of 11.6% of Acinetobacter VAP cases was recorded. Various underlying conditions like head injury, cerebral hemorrhage and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were found to be associated with Acinetobacter VAP. Acinetobacter strains exhibited MDR pattern. Conclusion: Strict infection control measures, judicious prescribing of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance surveillance programs and antibiotic cycling should be adopted to control infections due to these bacteria in patients admitted to intensive care units.
Toxicological evaluation of the topoisomerase inhibitor, etoposide, in the model animal Caenorhabditis elegans and 3T3‐L1 normal murine cells

Etoposide, a topoisomerase II inhibitor, has been widely used as a clinical anticancer drug to treat diverse cancer patients. Since not only rapidly dividing cancer cells but also the cells of normal human tissues and every living organism in environmental ecosystems have topoisomerases, it is crucial to study the toxicity of etoposide in other organisms in addition to cancer cells. In this study, we evaluated the toxicity of etoposide in both a soil nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, and 3T3‐L1 normal murine cells. Etoposide significantly retarded the growth, egg laying, and hatching in C. elegans. Etoposide also affected the reproductive gonad tissue, decreased the number of germ cells and induced abnormally enlarged nuclei in C. elegans. In addition, etoposide inhibited 3T3‐L1 cell proliferation, with IC50 values of 37.8 ± 7.3 and 9.8 ± 1.8 μM after 24 and 48 hours of treatment, respectively, via the induction of cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and apoptotic cell death. Etoposide also induced nuclear enlargement in 3T3‐L1 normal murine cells. The reproductive toxicity and abnormal nuclear morphological changes seemed to correlate with the adverse effects of etoposide. We suggest that these experimental platforms, i.e., the toxicological evaluation of both nematodes and 3T3‐L1 cells, may be useful to study the mechanisms underlying the side effects of chemicals, including topoisomerase inhibitors.
Rab35 and Its GAP EPI64C in T Cells Regulate Receptor Recycling and Immunological Synapse Formation*

Upon antigen recognition, T-cell receptor (TCR/CD3) and other signaling molecules become enriched in a specialized contact site between the T cell and antigen-presenting cell, i.e. the immunological synapse (IS). Enrichment occurs via mechanisms that include polarized secretion from recycling endosomes, but the Rabs and RabGAPs that regulate this are unknown. EPI64C (TBC1D10C) is an uncharacterized candidate RabGAP we identified by mass spectrometry as abundant in human peripheral blood T cells that is preferentially expressed in hematopoietic cells. EPI64C is a Rab35-GAP based both on in vitro Rab35-specific GAP activity and findings in transfection assays. EPI64C and Rab35 dominant negative (DN) constructs each impaired transferrin export from a recycling pathway in Jurkat T-cells and induced large vacuoles marked by transferrin receptor, TCR, and SNAREs implicated in TCR-polarized secretion. Rab35 localized to the plasma membrane and to intracellular vesicles where it substantially colocalized with TfR and with TCR. Rab35 was strongly recruited to the IS. Conjugate formation was impaired by transfection with Rab35-DN or EPI64C and by EPI64C knock down. TCR enrichment at the IS was impaired by Rab35-DN. Thus, EPI64C and Rab35 regulate a recycling pathway in T cells and contribute to IS formation, most likely by participating in TCR transport to the IS.
The Salmonella Effector SteA Contributes to the Control of Membrane Dynamics of Salmonella-Containing Vacuoles

ABSTRACT Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is a bacterial pathogen causing gastroenteritis in humans and a typhoid-like systemic disease in mice. S. Typhimurium virulence is related to its capacity to multiply intracellularly within a membrane-bound compartment, the Salmonella-containing vacuole (SCV), and depends on type III secretion systems that deliver bacterial effector proteins into host cells. Here, we analyzed the cellular function of the Salmonella effector SteA. We show that, compared to cells infected by wild-type S. Typhimurium, cells infected by ΔsteA mutant bacteria displayed fewer Salmonella-induced filaments (SIFs), an increased clustering of SCVs, and morphologically abnormal vacuoles containing more than one bacterium. The increased clustering of SCVs and the appearance of vacuoles containing more than one bacterium were suppressed by inhibition of the activity of the microtubule motor dynein or kinesin-1. Clustering and positioning of SCVs are controlled by the effectors SseF and SseG, possibly by helping to maintain a balanced activity of microtubule motors on the bacterial vacuoles. Deletion of steA in S. Typhimurium ΔsseF or ΔsseG mutants revealed that SteA contributes to the characteristic scattered distribution of ΔsseF or ΔsseG mutant SCVs in infected cells. Overall, this shows that SteA participates in the control of SCV membrane dynamics. Moreover, it indicates that SteA is functionally linked to SseF and SseG and suggests that it might contribute directly or indirectly to the regulation of microtubule motors on the bacterial vacuoles.
Biosynthesis of a broad-spectrum nicotianamine-like metallophore in Staphylococcus aureus

A new metal scavenger for bacteria All cells must find a way to acquire trace metals. Bacteria and plants scavenge iron, for instance, by synthesizing and releasing iron-chelating compounds called siderophores. Ghssein et al. describe three enzymes in Staphylococcus aureus that are responsible for the biosynthesis of another type of metallophore (see the Perspective by Nolan). Metabolomics and a range of biochemical assays show that this compound, named staphylopine, is involved in the uptake of a range of metals, depending on the growth environment. The genes required for staphylopine biosynthesis are conserved across a number of pathogenic bacteria and are similar to those for a broad-spectrum metallophore produced by plants. Science, this issue p. 1105; see also p. 1055 Bacteria produce a broad-spectrum metal chelator similar to one used in plants. Metal acquisition is a vital microbial process in metal-scarce environments, such as inside a host. Using metabolomic exploration, targeted mutagenesis, and biochemical analysis, we discovered an operon in Staphylococcus aureus that encodes the different functions required for the biosynthesis and trafficking of a broad-spectrum metallophore related to plant nicotianamine (here called staphylopine). The biosynthesis of staphylopine reveals the association of three enzyme activities: a histidine racemase, an enzyme distantly related to nicotianamine synthase, and a staphylopine dehydrogenase belonging to the DUF2338 family. Staphylopine is involved in nickel, cobalt, zinc, copper, and iron acquisition, depending on the growth conditions. This biosynthetic pathway is conserved across other pathogens, thus underscoring the importance of this metal acquisition strategy in infection.
The Reporter System for GPCR Assay with the Fission Yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are associated with a great variety of biological activities. Yeasts are often utilized as a host for heterologous GPCR assay. We engineered the intense reporter plasmids for fission yeast to produce green fluorescent protein (GFP) through its endogenous GPCR pathway. As a control region of GFP expression on the reporter plasmid, we focused on seven endogenous genes specifically activated through the pathway. When upstream regions of these genes were used as an inducible promoter in combination with LPI terminator, the mam2 upstream region produced GFP most rapidly and intensely despite the high background. Subsequently, LPI terminator was replaced with the corresponding downstream regions. The SPBC4.01 downstream region enhanced the response with the low background. Furthermore, combining SPBC4.01 downstream region with the sxa2 upstream region, the signal to noise ratio was obviously better than those of other regions. We also evaluated the time- and dose-dependent GFP productions of the strains transformed with the reporter plasmids. Finally, we exhibited a model of simplified GPCR assay with the reporter plasmid by expressing endogenous GPCR under the control of the foreign promoter.
Aspects of healthcare utilisation in self‐reported obstructive lung disease

Introduction: Utilisation of healthcare resources because of pulmonary diseases have previously been presented according to lung function or symptom severity. We aimed to compare the associations of symptoms and lung function to healthcare and social service utilisation in subjects with self‐reported obstructive lung diseases (OLDs) (asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic bronchitis, emphysema).
The epidemic of thyroid cancer in the United States: the role of endocrinologists and ultrasounds.

BACKGROUND The incidence of thyroid cancer has increased at an alarming rate in both men and women in the United States. The etiology of this epidemic is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that a significant component of this epidemic is due to increased detection of occult disease. We examined whether the density of endocrinologists and general surgeons as well as employment of cervical ultrasonography were factors associated with this epidemic. METHODS Thyroid cancer incidence rates by states were obtained from the United States Cancer Statistics 1999-2009 reported by the National Program of Cancer Registries. The densities of endocrinologists and general surgeons and the employment of cervical ultrasonography were calculated on a statewide basis and correlated with the incidence of thyroid cancer. RESULTS Age-standardized incidence rates of thyroid cancer have increased in every state in the United States. Significant regional variations were noted, with the highest incidence rates in the northeast and the lowest in the south. The incidence rates were significantly correlated with the density of endocrinologists (r = 0.58, p<0.0001 for males; r = 0.44, p = 0.0031 for females) and the employment of cervical ultrasonography (r = 0.40, p = 0.0091 for males; r = 0.36, p = 0.0197 for females). Both the density of endocrinologists and general surgeons and employment of cervical ultrasonography could explain 57% of the variability in state-level incidence for males and 49% for females. CONCLUSIONS These data offer evidence to suggest that the epidemic of thyroid cancer is due to increased detection of a reservoir of previously occult disease. The increased detection of thyroid cancer results in therapeutic interventions including surgery and radioactive thyroid treatment that may be of limited benefit.
Sensor Evaluation for Wearable Strain Gauges in Neurological Rehabilitation

Conductive elastomers are a novel strain sensing technology which can be unobtrusively embedded into a garment's fabric, allowing a new type of sensorized cloths for motion analysis. A possible application for this technology is remote monitoring and control of motor rehabilitation exercises. The present work describes a sensorized shirt for upper limb posture recognition. Supervised learning techniques have been employed to compare classification models for the analysis of strains, simultaneously measured at multiple points of the shirt. The instantaneous position of the limb was classified into a finite set of predefined postures, and the movement was decomposed in an ordered sequence of discrete states. The amount of information given by the observation of each sensor during the execution of a specific exercise was quantitatively estimated by computing the information gain for each sensor, which in turn allows the data-driven optimization of the garment. Real-time feedback on exercise progress can also be provided by reconstructing the sequence of consecutive positions assumed by the limb.
Mitochondrial Nitric Oxide Synthase Participates in Septic Shock Myocardial Depression by Nitric Oxide Overproduction and Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore Opening

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine whether mitochondrial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) is involved in septic shock myocardial depression. The cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) method was used to induce septic shock. There was a significant depression of hemodynamic parameters recorded in the septic shock stage. After using nonselective NOS inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), inducible NOS inhibitor aminoguanidine (AMG), and neuronal NOS inhibitor 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), depression of the parameters was partly attenuated. Nitric oxide production in isolated cardiac mitochondria increased obviously in the CLP–septic shock stage, L-NAME and 7-NI both decreased NO production significantly. Nitrite/nitrate (NOx-) production in the septic shock stage was much greater than those in the corresponding sham groups, and NOx- production in the cytosol by inducible NOS was greater. Treatment with AMG suppressed NOx- production in the cytosol by iNOS, whereas treatment with 7-NI decreased NOx- production in the mitochondria. Mitochondrial NOS expression increased significantly in the septic shock stage, and its overexpression was attenuated using 7-NI. There was no significant decrease in the mitochondrial permeability transition pore measurement in the CLP–septic shock group, whereas a significant decrease was observed in those treated with L-NAME or 7-NI. These results indicate that overexpression of mitochondrial NOS is involved in myocardial depression.
Sex Reversal in Birds

Sexual differentiation in birds is controlled genetically as in mammals, although the sex chromosomes are different. Males have a ZZ sex chromosome constitution, while females are ZW. Gene(s) on the sex chromosomes must initiate gonadal sex differentiation during embryonic life, inducing paired testes in ZZ individuals and unilateral ovaries in ZW individuals. The traditional view of avian sexual differentiation aligns with that expounded for other vertebrates; upon sexual differentiation, the gonads secrete sex steroid hormones that masculinise or feminise the rest of the body. However, recent studies on naturally occurring or experimentally induced avian sex reversal suggest a significant role for direct genetic factors, in addition to sex hormones, in regulating sexual differentiation of the soma in birds. This review will provide an overview of sex determination in birds and both naturally and experimentally induced sex reversal, with emphasis on the key role of oestrogen. We then consider how recent studies on sex reversal and gynandromorphic birds (half male:half female) are shaping our understanding of sexual differentiation in avians and in vertebrates more broadly. Current evidence shows that sexual differentiation in birds is a mix of direct genetic and hormonal mechanisms. Perturbation of either of these components may lead to sex reversal.
Sexual addiction screening test.

The Sexual Addiction Screening Test (SAST) is designed to assist in the assessment of sexually compulsive or addictive behavior. Developed in cooperation with hospitals, treatment programs, private therapists, and community groups, the SAST provides a profile of responses which help to discriminate between addictive and non-addictive behavior. To complete the test, answer each question by placing a check in the appropriate yes/no column. SCORE __________
3D Form Display with Shape Memory Alloy

We propose a new display for presenting 3D forms using a pin-rod matrix. Due to a long range of movement, it is capable of displaying large-scale, dense objects such as human faces or geographical features. In this work, we use a coil-form Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) as a pinrod actuator. The prototype has a 4×4 pin-rod matrix, with a 120[mm] range of motion (which is longer than previous works), a 12[mm] pin interval and a 1[mm] interval for height accuracy. The pin-rod matrix conveys visual depth information and is designed to be touchable, so our goal is to develop a display that appeals to both the eyes and hands.
Investigation of Fluoride Tolerance in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Anionic ion species occur in gangue minerals and impact the bioleaching efficiency even at low concentrations. Recently, the detrimental influence of fluoride ions on bioleaching microorganisms has caused great attention in research. However, the tolerance mechanisms of bioleaching microorganisms for fluoride are still unclear. In order to reveal fluoride tolerance, culture experiments with different concentrations of fluoride and ferrous iron-grown Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans were carried out. The results showed that oxidation-reduction potential, oxidation capacity of iron and cell density were all negatively correlated to the fluoride concentration. The growth of A. ferrooxidans showed a longer delayed time and a slower growth rate when fluoride concentration increased. The fluoride tolerance for A. ferrooxidans could be attributed to the generated ferric ions from ferrous oxidation. Ferric ions reacted with HF to decrease the concentration of F- and finally reduced the toxicity of fluoride on A. ferrooxidans.
Probabilistic Sequence Modeling for Recommender Systems

Abstract: Probabilistic topic models are widely used in different contexts to uncover the hidden structure in large text corpora. One of the main features of these models is that generative process follows a bag-of-words assumption, i.e each token is independent from the previous one. We extend the popular Latent Dirichlet Allocation model by exploiting a conditional Markovian assumptions, where the token generation depends on the current topic and on the previous token. The resulting model is capable of accommodating temporal correlations among tokens, which better model user behavior. This is particularly significant in a collaborative filtering context, where the choice of a user can be exploited for recommendation purposes, and hence a more realistic and accurate modeling enables better recommendations. For the mentioned model we present a fast Gibbs Sampling procedure for the parameters estimation. A thorough experimental evaluation over real-word data shows the performance advantages, in terms of recall and precision, of the proposed sequence-modeling approach.