Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A novel flow cytometry assay using dihydroethidium as redox-sensitive probe reveals NADPH oxidase-dependent generation of superoxide anion in human platelets exposed to amyloid peptide β

Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation is critical in the regulation of platelets, which has important implications in the modulation of hemostasis and thrombosis. Nonetheless, despite several assays have been described and successfully utilized in the past, the analysis of ROS generation in human platelets remains challenging. Here we show that dihydroethidium (DHE) allows the characterization of redox responses upon platelet activation by physiological and pathological stimuli. In particular, the flow cytometry assay that we describe here allowed us to confirm that thrombin, collagen-related peptide (CRP) and arachidonic acid but not adenosine diphosphate (ADP) stimulate superoxide anion formation in a concentration-dependent manner. 0.1unit/ml thrombin, 3 μg/ml CRP and 30 μM arachidonic acid are commonly used to stimulate platelets in vitro and here were shown to stimulate a significant increase in superoxide anion formation. The ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) abolished superoxide anion generation in response to all tested stimuli, but the pan-NADPH oxidase (NOX) inhibitor VAS2870 only inhibited superoxide anion formation in response to thrombin and CRP. The involvement of NOXs in thrombin and CRP-dependent responses was confirmed by the inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by these stimuli by VAS2870, while platelet aggregation in response to arachidonic acid was insensitive to this inhibitor. In addition, the pathological platelet stimulus amyloid β (Aβ) 1–42 peptide induced superoxide anion formation in a concentration-dependent manner. Aβ peptide stimulated superoxide anion formation in a NOX-dependent manner, as proved by the use of VAS2870. Aβ 1–42 peptide displayed only moderate activity as an aggregation stimulus, but was able to significantly potentiate platelet aggregation in response to submaximal agonists concentrations, such as 0.03 unit/ml thrombin and 10 μM arachidonic acid. The inhibition of NOXs by 10 μM VAS2870 abolished Aβ-dependent potentiation of platelet aggregation in response to 10 μM arachidonic acid, suggesting that the pro-thrombotic activity of Aβ peptides depends on NOX activity. Similar experiments could not be performed with thrombin or collagen, as NOXs are required for the signaling induced by these stimuli. These findings shed some new light on the pro-thrombotic activity of Aβ peptides. In summary, here we describe a novel and reliable assay for the detection of superoxide anion in human platelets. This is particularly important for the investigation of the pathophysiological role of redox stress in platelets, a field of research of increasing importance, but hindered by the absence of a reliable and easily accessible ROS detection methodology applicable to platelets.
Vestibular control of neck muscles in acute and chronic hemilabyrinthectomized cats.

Reflex activity evoked in neck extensor muscles by head movements in the sagittal plane (the sagittal vestibulocollic reflex (v.c.r.), Dutia & Hunter, 1985), was studied in decerebrate cats with acute or chronic loss of one vestibular labyrinth. After acute hemilabyrinthectomy, tonic electromyographic (e.m.g.) activity in the biventer cervicis muscle ipsilateral to the lesion was normal, while that in the contralateral muscle was abolished. Sinusoidal head movements in the sagittal plane (0.1‐5 Hz, 1‐10 deg peak to peak) caused reflex modulation of e.m. g. activity in the ipsilateral muscle, but did not evoke any response in the contralateral muscle. The phase (re head position) of the reflex response in the ipsilateral muscle was similar to that in a normal cat with intact labyrinths, while reflex gain was lowered by 2‐8 dB below its value before hemilabyrinthectomy. Removal of the remaining labyrinth in acutely hemilabyrinthectomized animals restored bilaterally symmetrical tonic e.m. g. activity in the neck extensors. There was no e.m. g. modulation during head movements after bilateral labyrinthectomy. In chronic hemilabyrinthectomized cats (four to seven weeks), tonic e.m. g. activity in the neck muscles on both lesioned and intact sides was similar to normal. The gain and phase of the sagittal v.c. r. were also normal over a wide range of frequencies of head movement on both lesioned and intact sides. Interruption of the medial longitudinal bundle approximately 1 mm rostral to the obex did not abolish the bilaterally symmetrical compensated reflex response in either muscle, indicating that the descending axons in the medial vestibulospinal tract are not essential in mediating the normal v.c. r. response in compensated animals.
Performance-Enhanced and Symmetric Full-Space Scanning End-Switched CRLH LWA

An end-switched composite right/left-handed (CRLH) electronically scanned leaky-wave antenna (eLWA) is presented. The input signal is routed to either end of the CRLH eLWA via a switch, with each end providing half-space scanning (-90° ≤ θ ≤ 0°) . The end-switching scheme, which is applicable to any two-port LWA, enables full-space coverage using any half-space scanning only LWA. Compared to a conventional single-ended CRLH eLWA, which scans the full-space requiring a complex design, large capacitance values, and tuning range, the end-switched scheme simplifies the design and relaxes the constraints on the varactors, which lowers their cost. The conventional CRLH eLWA also suffers from a large scanning loss due to its large scanning range and from low efficiency due to its requirement for large capacitance values, which exhibit high loss. The end-switched CRLH eLWA reduces the scanning loss due to its smaller scanning range, while improving the efficiency due to its low capacitance values.
Visual saliency as sequential eye fixation probability

Human vision system acquires essential information from the environment by sequentially sampling visual contents at important locations under the control of selective attention mechanism. We propose that bottom-up saliency is not based on global statistics but on information sampled at prior eye fixations. Our model calculates visual saliency using sequential eye fixation probability. However, the proposed model needs fixation priors, which are hard to simulate given current fixation data and experimental conditions. An approximation is proposed to generate a single saliency map by fusing all possible conditions of fixation prior. Our method outperforms all state-of-the-art models in predicting eye fixations, and shows reasonable response to various psychological patterns.
Teacher Professional Development for the Knowledge Society: The Intel® Teach Advanced Online Program

Theageofknowledge-basedeconomyandclassroomsof"digitalnative"studentshasraised the expectations toward teachers not only to possess technical and didactical skills to integrate tech- nology into their lessons, but also to constantlyupdate their competenciesto keepup withthe rapidly advancing technology innovations in education. One of the challenges is how to prepare teachers to utilizeeffectivelytechnologytoteachtheskillsforparticipationandsuccessintheknowledgesociety. Aprofessionaldevelopmentprogram,Intel®Teach-AdvancedOnline,wasdesignedandimplemented specificallyaimingtoequipteacherswiththenecessarytechnicalandmethodologicalknowledgeand skills to integrate technology in their classroom practice. The impact of the training was assessed through external evaluation and according to teachers' self-assessment the program improved their competenciesfortechnologyintegrationandforcollaboration,theirteachingpracticeandquality,as well as students' motivation and skills. The program is part of a larger undertaking for improving teaching through technology - the Intel® Teach program, which encompasses a portfolio of teacher training courses implemented through public-private partnerships in over 50 countries worldwide.
Cell-Fate Speci fi cation in Arabidopsis Roots Requires Coordinative Action of Lineage Instruction and Positional Reprogramming 1 [ OPEN ]

Tissue organization and pattern formation within a multicellular organism rely on coordinated cell division and cell-fate determination. In animals, cell fates are mainly determined by a cell lineage-dependent mechanism, whereas in plants, positional information is thought to be the primary determinant of cell fates. However, our understanding of cell-fate regulation in plants mostly relies on the histological and anatomical studies on Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) roots, which contain a single layer of each cell type in nonvascular tissues. Here, we investigate the dynamic cell-fate acquisition in modified Arabidopsis roots with additional cell layers that are artificially generated by the misexpression of SHORT-ROOT (SHR). We found that cell-fate determination in Arabidopsis roots is a dimorphic cascade with lineage inheritance dominant in the early stage of pattern formation. The inherited cell identity can subsequently be removed or modified by positional information. The instruction of cell-fate conversion is not a fast readout during root development. The final identity of a cell type is determined by the synergistic contribution frommultiple layers of regulation, including symplastic communication across tissues. Our findings underline the collaborative inputs during cell-fate instruction.
Does Cerebral Hemispheric Laterality Control Swallow Performance?

Objectives It is well established that the brainstem regulates the act of swallow. However, the role of cortex and its influence on swallowing are still a question. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate if cerebral hemispheric laterality controls swallow activity. Methods Thirty normal right handed participants were subjected to time test of swallow using 100 ml of water. Dual paradigm was used to investigate hemispheric laterality for swallowing which involved listening to the speech or music stimuli presented binaurally while swallowing. The clinician measured total time taken and hyolaryngeal movement simultaneously which was used to calculate volume/time, volume/swallow, and time/swallow on an offline basis. Results Results revealed that swallow performance decreased with the dual task paradigm compared to baseline swallow. These results are suggestive of cortex playing a role during swallowing in the dual task paradigm. Moreover, quantitative parameters like volume/swallow and volume/time were affected more when speech was competing with swallowing. However, music exerted greater interference over the speech for time/swallow. Conclusions These results suggests that there exists differential cue lateralization hypothesis which means volume related parameters are controlled by left hemisphere and time related swallowing parameters are controlled at the right hemisphere.
A framework based security-knowledge database for vulnerabilities detection of business logic

This paper presents a framework for vulnerabilities detection of business logic in the software design phase. First, model the business logic in the design phase finite state machine, and extract relevant business processes from the model. Calculate the similarity degree between attack pattern and the business processes. Thus, find out if there are some vulnerabilities in the business logic and generate a report of threats analysis. Finally, Focusing on the business logic of user registration in the web application, we model it as a FSA then detect the model. By analyzing the detection result we conclude that the approach is correct and effective and can improve software security and reliability.
Cross-induction of glc and ace Operons ofEscherichia coli Attributable to Pathway Intersection

The metabolic pathways specified by theglc and ace operons in Escherichia coli yield glyoxylate as a common intermediate, which is acted on by two malate synthase isoenzymes: one encoded by glcB and the other by aceB. Null mutations in either gene exhibit no phenotype, because of cross-induction of the ace operon by glycolate and the glc operon by acetate. In this study, the regulation of the glc operon, comprising the structural genes glcDEFGB, was analyzed at the molecular level. This operon, activated by growth on glycolate, is transcribed as a single message and is under the positive control of GlcC encoded by a divergent gene. Expression of the glc operon is strongly dependent on the integration host factor (IHF) and is repressed by the global respiratory regulator ArcA-P. In vitro gel-shift experiments demonstrated direct binding of the promoter DNA to IHF and ArcA-P. Mutant analysis indicated that cross-induction of theglc operon by acetate is mediated by the GlcC protein that recognizes the compound as an alternative effector. The similar pattern of regulation of the Glc and Ace systems by IHF and ArcA-P ensures their effective cross-induction.
Changes in estrogenic and androgenic activities at different stages of treatment in wastewater treatment works

Estrogenic and androgenic activities of wastewater were determined during treatment in five wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) in the Untied Kingdom. With one exception, both estrogenic and androgenic activities decreased markedly as wastewater progressed through the plants; removal rates were generally 70% or higher, sometimes reaching 100%. Most of the reduction in activity occurred during secondary (biological) treatment. In both influents and effluents, estrogenic and androgenic activities were appreciably lower in samples collected in August, when the amount of rain had been substantial, compared with samples collected in April and May. Most final effluents contained very low (or nondetectable) estrogenic activity (undetectable to 13 ng/L of estradiol equivalents) and androgenic activity (undetectable to 143 ng/L of dihydrotestosterone [DHT] equivalents), although one (from a WWTW that had only primary treatment) contained relatively high activities (40 ng/L of estradiol equivalents; 4,033 ng/L of DHT equivalents). The type of treatment available at the various WWTWs also affected the activity of the final effluent. The biological significance of these results will depend upon which chemicals contribute to the estrogenic and androgenic activities, because of widely different potencies of different estrogenic chemicals, and on the degree of dilution of the effluents in their receiving waters.
Optimal treatment of intermediate‐risk prostate carcinoma with radiotherapy

The clinical heterogeneity of intermediate‐risk prostate carcinoma presents a challenge to urologic oncology in terms of prognosis and management. There is controversy regarding whether patients with intermediate‐risk prostate carcinoma should be treated with dose‐escalated external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) (e.g., doses > 74 gray [Gy]), or conventional‐dose EBRT (e.g., doses < 74 Gy) combined with androgen deprivation (AD). Data for this review were identified through searches for articles in MEDLINE and in conference proceedings, indexed from 1966 to 2004. Currently, the intermediate‐risk prostate carcinoma grouping is defined on the basis of prostate‐specific antigen (PSA), tumor classification (T classification), and Gleason score. Emerging evidence suggests that additional prognostic information may be derived from the percentage of positive core needle biopsies at the time of diagnosis and/or from the pretreatment PSA doubling time. Novel prognostic biomarkers include protein expression relating to cell cycle control, cell death, DNA repair, and intracellular signal transduction. Preclinical data support dose escalation or combined AD with radiation as a means to increase prostate carcinoma cell kill. There is Level I evidence that patients with intermediate‐risk prostate carcinoma benefit from dose‐escalated EBRT or AD plus conventional‐dose EBRT. However, clinical evidence is lacking to support the uniform use of AD plus dose‐escalated EBRT. Patients in the intermediate‐risk group should be entered into well designed, randomized clinical trials of dose‐escalated EBRT and AD with sufficient power to address biochemical failure and cause‐specific survival endpoints. These studies should be stratified by novel prognostic markers and accompanied by strong translational endpoints to address clinical heterogeneity and to allow for individualized treatment. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Access to Semantic Memory in Parkinson's Disease and Multiple Sclerosis

The capacity to access semantic memory and the efficiency of the memory search were studied in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) or multiple sclerosis (MS) using a modified version of the "Supermarket Test. " PD and MS patients who performed normally on the Boston Naming Test generated as many specific exemplars and category labels as did controls, and these patients also searched their semantic memories as efficiently as controls. In contrast, PD and MS patients with impaired confrontational naming generated fewer specific exemplars, but a normal number of generic category labels. These naming-impaired patients searched their semantic memories less efficiently than controls. For both MS and PD patients, the efficiency of semantic memory search was significantly correlated with measures that reflect access to semantic memory (eg, performance on letter or category fluency tasks), but was not significantly related to measures of problem-solving ability derived from the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Inefficient search of semantic memory in MS and PD appears to arise from an inability to retrieve knowledge from semantic memory quickly or from the loss of information from semantic memory stores, rather than from impairment in the ability to formulate and deploy appropriate strategies for task solution. ( J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 1989; 2:153-162).
Patterns of Evi-1 expression in embryonic and adult tissues suggest that Evi-1 plays an important regulatory role in mouse development.

Evi-1 is a putative protooncogene first identified as a common site of retroviral integration in murine myeloid leukemias. It encodes a 145 x 10(3) Mr nuclear DNA-binding protein that contains ten zinc-finger motifs separated into two domains, as well as an acidic domain. These features suggest that Evi-1 encodes a transcriptional regulatory protein. In Drosophila, zinc-finger proteins such as Kruppel are involved in body plan patterning, and exhibit a spatially restricted pattern of expression in the embryo. To determine if Evi-1 may be involved in morphogenetic processes in the mouse embryo, we have performed in situ hybridization and Northern blot analysis on embryonic and adult mouse tissues to delineate the spatial and temporal pattern of Evi-1 expression. Our results show that Evi-1 is expressed at high levels in a few tissues in the embryo and is widely expressed, albeit at generally low levels, in the adult. Regions that exhibit high-level expression in the embryo include: the urinary system and the Mullerian ducts; the bronchial epithelium of the lung; focal areas within the nasal cavities; the endocardial cushions and truncus swellings in the heart; and the developing limbs. Expression in the limb occurs at the highest levels from 9.5 to 12.5 days, is present in both hind and forelimbs, is absent at the apical ectodermal ridge, and does not appear to establish a gradient. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Sevelamer hydrochloride prevents ectopic calcification and renal osteodystrophy in chronic renal failure rats.

BACKGROUND Hyperphosphatemia is associated with severe complications, including ectopic calcification of soft tissues, secondary hyperparathyroidism, and renal osteodystrophy (ROD). Sevelamer hydrochloride is a nonabsorbed calcium- and metal-free phosphate binder that lowers serum phosphorus levels in hemodialysis patients. This study examined the efficacy of sevelamer in preventing ectopic calcification of soft tissues and ROD in adenine-induced renal failure rats. METHODS Male, 12-week-old Wistar-Jcl rats were freely fed an adenine diet (0.75 g adenine in 100 g normal diet) for four weeks. After three weeks of the adenine diet, when serum phosphorus levels had significantly increased, the rats were freely fed a normal diet that contained 1% or 2% of sevelamer for another five weeks. Time course changes of serum levels of phosphorus, calcium, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) were measured. At the end of the study, calcium and phosphorus levels in the heart and aorta were measured, and the calcification of kidney, heart, aorta, and stomach were histopathologically examined. The severity of ROD was evaluated by a histopathologic and morphometric analysis of the femurs. RESULTS Compared with the adenine controls (N = 10), the sevelamer-treated (1%, N = 6; and 2%, N = 10) groups of adenine-induced renal failure rats had reduced serum phosphorus, serum calcium x phosphorus product, and serum PTH levels. Moreover, in the treatment groups, sevelamer suppressed calcification of the aorta media, and also the osteoid volume, fibrosis volume, and porosity ratio of femurs. CONCLUSION These results suggest that sevelamer treatment might contribute to the suppression of ectopic calcification and ROD.
Room-temperature TiOx oxide diode for 1D1R resistance-switching memory

Resistive-switching behaviors in transition metal oxides, such as NiO and TiO2, have attracted great attention recently due to the potential for the next-generation nonvolatile memory applications [1, 2]. However, read disturbance due to the cross-talk among neighboring cells is a serious issue for the implementation of large memory array as shown in Fig. 1 [3]. Traditionally, a transistor can be added as a selection element in the memory cell, the so-called 1T1R (one transistor one resistor) cell, to prevent undesirable cross-talk, but at the expense of increasing cell size and high thermal-budget. Nevertheless, it is unfavorable in the high-density memory array where the unit cell size and the low-temperature three-dimensional stacking is of the concern. Recently, a compact 1D1R cell, which utilizes an oxide-based diode as the selection element to cut off the parasitic cross-talk, has been realized [4]. The ratifying pn junction formed by two different oxide layers, one n-type and one p-type, provides sufficient on-off ratio and current density, but the high turn-on voltage and high ideality factor are less than ideal. In this study, we demonstrate a high forward-current TiOx diode fabricated at room temperature by a very simple process. Finally, the switching behavior of the 1D1R cell will be discussed.
Document image analysis by a mobile robot for autonomous indoor navigation

This paper proposes the analysis of a paper-based floor plan of a building for reference purposes in the navigation task of a mobile robot. The novelty of this approach lies in the combination of this information extracted from the document image in real time just prior to real world exploration with dynamic visual perception. An artificial neural system integrates both sets of information by having the robot recognize navigation signs from the floor plan and then look for them in the expected sequence in the environment. Thereafter, while determining and executing appropriate movements as a response to the environment, the robot links and learns to associate the undertaken movements to the respective signs. The analysis of the floor plan involves a detailed process permitting the robot to extract the required information in real time. This process is elaborated in this paper, along with experiments with the robot using the proposed architecture in a simple navigation scenario, hence proving the feasibility of the approach.