Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Targeted Gene Inactivation of Calpain-1 Suppresses Cortical Degeneration Due to Traumatic Brain Injury and Neuronal Apoptosis Induced by Oxidative Stress*

Background: Calpains play an important role in the regulation of cell death. Results: Calpain-1 inhibition decreases cortical neurodegeneration following TBI by regulating calcium influx and apoptosis of neurons under oxidative stress. Conclusion: Genetic inhibition of calpain-1 reduces neurodegeneration and suppresses neuronal apoptosis. Significance: Targeted inhibition of calpain-1 offers a promising therapeutic approach against TBI and other neurodegenerative diseases. Calpains are calcium-regulated cysteine proteases that have been implicated in the regulation of cell death pathways. Here, we used our calpain-1 null mouse model to evaluate the function of calpain-1 in neural degeneration following a rodent model of traumatic brain injury. In vivo, calpain-1 null mice show significantly less neural degeneration and apoptosis and a smaller contusion 3 days post-injury than wild type littermates. Protection from traumatic brain injury corroborated with the resistance of calpain-1 neurons to apoptosis induced by oxidative stress. Biochemical analysis revealed that caspase-3 activation, extracellular calcium entry, mitochondrial membrane permeability, and release of apoptosis-inducing factor from mitochondria are partially blocked in the calpain-1 null neurons. These findings suggest that the calpain-1 knock-out mice may serve as a useful model system for neuronal protection and apoptosis in traumatic brain injury and other neurodegenerative disorders in which oxidative stress plays a role.
Selector design considerations and requirements for 1 SIR RRAM crossbar array

This work investigates the impact of selector characteristics on the overall 1S1R cell performance. Selector requirements are extracted using parameterized characteristics for an 1Mbit array, taking into account the read/write margins and power consumption constraints. Array sizing simulation results show that the voltage operating range of the selector is important. Selectors with large voltage operation range improve full cell non-linearity, but this comes at the cost of reduced 1S1R read window and the need of high voltage during both read and write operations. Using optimized bias scheme enables a larger design margin for the selector compared to the standard 1/2 or 1/3 bias scheme. The use of lower switching current resistive element also enlarges the selector design range, allowing lower non-linearity and voltage operation range. In case a low switching current resistive element is used, it is the read operation that imposes the minimum selector requirements.
Preoperative Cerebral Aneurysm Assessment by Three-dimensional Magnetic Resonance Angiography: Feasibility of Surgery without Conventional Catheter Angiography

OBJECTIVE:In this study, we aimed to assess whether surgery could be performed in patients with cerebral aneurysms by using three-dimensional (3-D) magnetic resonance (MR) angiography alone, without conventional catheter angiography. METHODS:A total of 108 patients who had undergone MR angiography and aneurysm surgery between January 1998 and January 2004 were enrolled in this study. The study subjects included 49 patients without subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and 59 patients with SAH. RESULTS:In our preliminary study, 13 patients without SAH were diagnosed using 3-D MR angiography compared with catheter angiography and 3-D computed tomographic angiography before surgery. The 3-D MR angiography demonstrated all 18 unruptured aneurysms that were detected by catheter angiography. Thirty-six patients without SAH and 59 patients with SAH were examined using 3-D MR angiography. In 33 patients (91.6%) without SAH and 56 patients (94.9%) with SAH, we were able to reach a diagnosis on the basis of 3-D MR angiography alone. A majority of aneurysms were regular-sized and located in the anterior part of the circle of Willis. A total of 89 patients (93.7%) who underwent surgery with the aid of 3-D MR angiography alone were treated successfully and had no complications related to the lack of information that might have been gathered by catheter angiography. The 3-D MR angiography provided the authors with the aneurysm locations as well as with surgically important information regarding the configuration of the aneurysmal sac and neck and its relationship with the surrounding vessels. In the remaining 6 patients, 3-D MR angiography was followed by catheter angiography to acquire additional diagnostic confirmation. CONCLUSION:The results of this study support the notion that 3-D MR angiography can replace conventional catheter angiography for preoperative assessment in the majority of regular-sized anterior circulation aneurysms.
Systemic RNAi in C. elegans Requires the Putative Transmembrane Protein SID-1

Double-stranded RNA-mediated gene interference (RNAi) inCaenorhabditis elegans systemically inhibits gene expression throughout the organism. To investigate how gene-specific silencing information is transmitted between cells, we constructed a strain that permits visualization of systemic RNAi. We used this strain to identify systemic RNA interference–deficient (sid) loci required to spread gene-silencing information between tissues but not to initiate or maintain an RNAi response. One of these loci, sid-1, encodes a conserved protein with predicted transmembrane domains. SID-1 is expressed in cells sensitive to RNAi, is localized to the cell periphery, and is required cell-autonomously for systemic RNAi.
Close Engagements with Artificial Companions: Key Social, Psychological, Ethical, and Design Issues Yorick Wilks (editor) (University of Oxford) Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company (Natural Language Processing series, edited by Ruslan Mitkov, volume 8), 2010, xxii+315 pp; hardbound, ISBN 97

This book is an edited collection of chapters on artificial companions (ACs) resulting from a workshop. It purports to discuss the philosophical and ethical issues associated with ACs, what ACs should be like and how to construct them, and to provide examples of special-purpose ACs. Table 1 shows the chapters of the book and their respective authors. When I bought a vacuum-cleaning robot called Roomba, it never occurred to me that this was actually a companion, as claimed by Peltu and Wilks in this book’s afterword. Yes, it independently helps me, autonomously recharges its battery, and occasionally talks: “Clean brushes. ” I had higher expectations of a companion, however. Perhaps it would feel more like a companion if it expressed disgust with my mess (cf. Bee et al.), inquired knowledgeably about my holidays and family (cf. Wilks), empathized with my feelings (cf. Bevacqua et al.), and advised scraping off spilled porridge with a spoon (cf. Sloman). There is no consensus in this book on what an AC should be like; each chapter tends to express an alternative (often quite radically different) opinion. In the foreword, Wilks defines ACs as “conversationalists or confidants” that get to know their owners, assist with Internet interactions, provide company and companionship, and build their owner’s biography. However, when analyzing the necessary conditions for being an AC, Pulman concludes that conversation is not needed, and Boden strongly objects to ACs as confidants because of privacy concerns. Rather than providing company, according to O’Hara, ACs will represent (technophobe) owners in complex dealings with technology. Lowe takes this one step further and questions whether ACs are really others or whether they are cooler-headed versions of ourselves. Whereas Romano defines an AC as a good friend who, among other things, makes you laugh, shares your emotions, and listens, Sloman focuses on the (in his opinion) more difficult problem of creating ACs that provide help and assistance. Turkle sees ACs as offering care as well as being good company, teachers, and lovers (! ). Taylor et al. deviate from the anthropomorphic view of ACs, and discuss a robot that has no human-like properties other than that it is fed on organic material.
Exploring the Role of Instruments in the Transformation of Logics: The Case of Socially Responsible Investment

The purpose of this article is to explore the role of instruments in the transformation of institutional logics and their associated practices at the micro level. Based on an ethnographic study, this article compares two working groups — one responsible for equity and the other for fixed-income investments — in an asset management company attempting to integrate new demands for socially responsible investment (SRI). These two working groups both sought to change their investment processes through the introduction of new calculative devices. The equity group was perceived to be more successful than the fixed-income group in introducing SRI because of its greater ability to fabricate calculative devices capable of mediating between financial returns and social responsibility. Elaborating on these findings, the article argues that instruments can effect institutional change when actors come to believe that available instruments are sufficiently flexible and incomplete to act as "mediating instruments" between practice and institutional change.
The new era of AI will revolutionize our wellness

The resurgence of AI is changing every aspect of our lives. Many new kinds of data are becoming available in every field, making possible new insights and approaches that were unthinkable a few years ago. In this paper, we provide a broad overview of the new capabilities of AI platforms that is making this revolution possible, and delve more deeply into one specific AI application for wellness we're building at Viome, Inc. This AI system helps us understand the biological ecosystem inside each of us by creating a high-resolution model of each individual's microbiome and metabolome. It then applies knowledge-based reasoning and machine learning to modern medical science to produce the best wellness plan for each individual.
Adaptive interference cancellation system for a WCDMA repeater

This paper examines the problem of coupling in on-channel repeaters for a WCDMA wireless system. Unwanted feedback between the donor and coverage antennas of a repeater are created by radio echoes from local scatterers; as well as direct path antenna isolation limitations. These radio echoes create interference not only in the incoming signal from the base station, but also cause instability in the repeater. This paper extends the use of an adaptive interference cancellation system (ICS) presented in [1] to WCDMA signaling scheme. Various new characteristic features of the algorithm are illustrated using the MATLAB simulation results.
The Chemical industry

In our modern world, the chemical industry occupies a sprawling, ill-defined terrain at the heart of every industrial economy. Its boundaries can only be delineated in a very arbitrary way since so many other industries such as brewing, steel and paper are in effect complex chemical processes. Thus from a statistical point of view definition of the chemical sector can be very confusing. The brief considers the structure of the chemical industry, how it can be analysed and its economic prospects.
Rising stars: Modulation of brain functions by astroglial type‐1 cannabinoid receptors

The type‐1‐cannabinoid (CB1) receptor is amongst the most widely expressed G protein‐coupled receptors in the brain. In few decades, CB1 receptors have been shown to regulate a large array of functions from brain cell development and survival to complex cognitive processes. Understanding the cellular mechanisms underlying these functions of CB1 is complex due to the heterogeneity of the brain cell types on which the receptor is expressed. Although the large majority of CB1 receptors act on neurons, early studies pointed to a direct control of CB1 receptors over astroglial functions including brain energy supply and neuroprotection. In line with the growing concept of the tripartite synapse highlighting astrocytes as direct players in synaptic plasticity, astroglial CB1 receptor signaling recently emerged as the mediator of several forms of synaptic plasticity associated to important cognitive functions. Here, we shortly review the current knowledge on CB1 receptor‐mediated astroglial functions. This functional spectrum is large and most of the mechanisms by which CB1 receptors control astrocytes, as well as their consequences in vivo, are still unknown, requiring innovative approaches to improve this new cannabinoid research field. GLIA 2015;63:353–364
Differential association of traits of fear and anxiety with norepinephrine- and dark-induced pupil reactivity.

The relation between fear and anxiety remains unclear, though psychometric data strongly suggest they are independent emotional systems. Because central norepinephrine (NE) projection systems are at the core of models of both fear and anxiety, the present experiment explored whether this independence extends to NE functioning. Two different aspects of NE functioning were assessed in a healthy young adult sample (N = 18): pupillary reactivity to (a) a specific NE alpha-1 agonist challenge to assess receptor reactivity and (b) a darkness challenge to assess contributions of central NE. Pupillary reactivity to the former was strongly and specifically related to A. Tellegen's (1982) Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ) Harm Avoidance scale (i.e., trait fear), whereas the latter was strongly and specifically related to MPQ Negative Emotionality (i.e., trait anxiety). Implications for conceptualizing fear and anxiety as emotional systems are discussed.
A Coupled Markov Chain approach to risk analysis of credit default swap index products

We apply a Coupled Markov Chain approach to model rating transitions and thereby default probabilities of companies. We estimate parameters by applying a maximum likelihood estimation using a large set of historical ratings. Given the parameters the model can be used to simulate scenarios for joint rating changes of a set of companies, enabling the use of contemporary risk management techniques. We obtain scenarios for the payment streams generated by CDX contracts and portfolios of such contracts. This allows for assessing the risk of the current position held and design portfolios which are optimal relative to the risk preferences of the investor.
Exclusion of WWP1 mutations in a cohort of dystroglycanopathy patients

Aberrant glycosylation of α‐dystroglycan is associated with a subset of clinically heterogeneous muscular dystrophies collectively referred to as the dystroglycanopathies. These autosomal‐recessive disorders span a wide spectrum of clinical severity ranging from Walker–Warburg syndrome, with severe brain and eye abnormalities, to mild adult‐onset limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy. To date, seven causative genes have been identified in the dystroglycanopathies, yet studies have suggested that a significant proportion of patients harbor mutations in novel genes.
Genomics as knowledge enterprise: Implementing an electronic research habitat at the Biopolis Experimental Therapeutics Center

The Experimental Therapeutics Center (ETC) has been established at Biopolis to advance translational research by bridging the gap between discovery science and commercialization. We describe the Electronic Research Habitat at ETC, a comprehensive hardware and software infrastructure designed to effectively manage terabyte data flows and storage, increase back office efficiency, enhance the scientific work experience, and satisfy rigorous regulatory and legal requirements. Our habitat design is secure, scalable and robust, and it strives to embody the core values of the knowledge‐based workplace, thus contributing to the strategic goal of building a “knowledge economy” in the context of Singapore's on‐going biotechnology initiative.
Subject-dependent degrees of reliability to solve a face recognition problem using multiple neural networks

The interest towards biometric approach to identity verification is high, because of the need to protect everything that could have a value for some purpose. Face recognition is one of these biometric techniques, having its greater advantage in requiring a limited interaction by user. We present a Face Recognition System (FRS) based on multiple neural networks using a belief revision mechanism. Each network is associated to an a-priori reliability value for each identity stored in database, modelling the specific skill of the modules composing the system with the recognition of a given subject. Every time a network is in conflict with the global response, it is forced to retrain itself, subjecting the system to a continuous learning. The main goal of this work is to carry out some preliminary tests to evaluate accuracy and robustness of FRS with “subject-dependent” reliability values, when some changes can affect the considered features. Tests over digitally aged faces are also conducted.
CdpA Is a Burkholderia pseudomallei Cyclic di-GMP Phosphodiesterase Involved in Autoaggregation, Flagellum Synthesis, Motility, Biofilm Formation, Cell Invasion, and Cytotoxicity

ABSTRACT Cyclic diguanylic acid (c-di-GMP) is an intracellular signaling molecule involved in regulation of cellular functions such as motility, biofilm formation and virulence. Intracellular level of c-di-GMP is controlled through opposing diguanylate cyclase (DGC) and phosphodiesterase (PDE) activities of GGDEF and EAL domain proteins, respectively. We report the identification and characterization of cdpA, a gene encoding a protein containing an EAL domain in the Gram-negative soil bacillus and human pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei KHW. Purified recombinant CdpA protein exhibited PDE activity in vitro. Evidence that CdpA is a major c-di-GMP-specific PDE in B. pseudomallei KHW was shown by an 8-fold-higher c-di-GMP level in the cdpA-null mutant as compared to the wild type and the complemented cdpA mutant. The presence of higher intracellular c-di-GMP levels in the cdpA-null mutant was associated with increased production of exopolysaccharides, increased cell-to-cell aggregation, absence of flagella and swimming motility, and increased biofilm formation. The relevance of CdpA in B. pseudomallei virulence was demonstrated by a 3-fold reduction in invasion of human lung epithelial cells and a 6-fold reduction in cytotoxicity on human macrophage cells infected with the cdpA mutant.
MARKET NEUTRAL VOLATILITY: A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO THE S&P 500 OPTIONS MARKET EFFICIENCY

Sob a hipotese de eficiencia dos mercados, a volatilidade implicita de uma opcao deve ser a melhor previsao possivel da futura volatilidade realizada do activo subjacente. Apesar deste argumento teorico, um vasto numero de estudos realizados na literatura financeira, concluem que a volatilidade implicita e um estimador enviesado da volatilidade realizada futura. Estes resultados sugerem que, ou estamos na presenca de um mercado ineficiente, ou que a metodologia econometrica utilizada e inadequada. Atraves da introducao do conceito de Market Neutral Volatility e da derivacao de um modelo teorico, e demonstrado, o que na realidade a volatilidade implicita estima, e provamos que o mercado de opcoes sobre o SP G14
Statin use and risk of prostate cancer recurrence in men treated with radiation therapy.

PURPOSE There has been growing interest in the potential anticancer activity of statins based on preclinical evidence of their antiproliferative, proapoptotic, and radiosensitizing properties. The primary objective of this study was to determine whether statin use is associated with improved clinical outcomes in patients treated with radiotherapy (RT) for prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS In total, 691 men with prostate adenocarcinoma treated with curative-intent RT between 1988 and 2006 were retrospectively analyzed. Of those, 189 patients (27%) were using statins, either during initial consultation or during follow-up. Lipid panels were collected (n = 298) a median of 5 months before RT start. Median follow-up was 50 months after RT. RESULTS Statin use was associated with improved freedom from biochemical failure (FFBF; P < .001), freedom from salvage androgen deprivation therapy (FFADT; P = .0011), and relapse-free survival (RFS; P < .001). Improved FFBF for statin users was seen in low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups (P = .0401, P = .0331, and P = .0034, respectively). The improvement in FFBF with statin use was independent of ADT use or radiation dose. On multivariable analysis, statin use was associated with improved FFBF (P < .001) along with pretreatment prostate-specific antigen < or = 8.4 (P < .001), stage less than T2b (P = .0111), and Gleason score < 7 (P = .0098). On univariate analysis, pretreatment total cholesterol < 187 (89% v 80%; P = .0494) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) < 110 (96% v 85%; P = .0462) were associated with improved 4-year FFBF. CONCLUSION Statin use was associated with a significant improvement in FFBF, FFADT, and RFS in this cohort of men treated with RT for prostate cancer. The favorable effect of statins may be mediated by direct effect or via the LDL-lowering effect of these medications.
An Improved DSATUR‐Based Branch‐and‐Bound Algorithm for the Vertex Coloring Problem

Given an undirected graph, the Vertex Coloring Problem (VCP) consists of assigning a color to each vertex of the graph in such a way that two adjacent vertices do not share the same color and the total number of colors is minimized. DSATUR‐based Branch‐and‐Bound algorithm (DSATUR) is an effective exact algorithm for the VCP. One of its main drawback is that a lower bound is computed only once and it is never updated. We introduce a reduced graph which allows the computation of lower bounds at nodes of the branching tree. We compare the effectiveness of different classical VCP bounds, plus a new lower bound based on the 1 ‐to‐ 1 mapping between VCPs and Stable Set Problems. Our new DSATUR outperforms the state of the art for random VCP instances with high density, significantly increasing the size of instances solved to proven optimality. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, Vol. 69(1), 124–141 2017
Kavşak Sinyalizasyon Sisteminin JACK Etmen Geliştirme Platformunun Kullanilarak Oluşturulmasi

In this study, design and implementation of a distributed multi-agent-based traffic management system is described. objects that are unstable identified as an agent. These are vehicle, lane and interchange agents. Vehicle agents often sends details to lanes agents. The information consists of speed, number of people in the vehicle, such as emergency parameters. Lane agent, collecting information on factors summarize the vehicle, sends information on the factors that created the crossroads. Intersection factor evaluates the lane informations, decides signaling and informs lane agents. Lane factors sends signaling information to vehicle factors. Recommended adaptive traffic management, decrease traffic accidents and congestion, traffic flow will be accelerated, hence the energy consumption will be reduced. At the same time getting an infrastructure which could provide communication between vehicles. The work has been conducted on JACK agent development platform which is based on Belief-Desire-Intention model.