Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deeply programmable network; emerging technologies for network virtualization and software defined network (SDN)

This presentation introduces the recent trends in network virtualization and software defined network (SDN). We expect these trends to help establish sustainable communities to meet challenges of today's and tomorrow's communication infrastructures. These infrastructures, in turn, will support various human activities and thus contribute to the creation of human-oriented technologies.
Androgen receptor modifications in prostate cancer cells upon long‐termandrogen ablation and antiandrogen treatment

To study the mechanisms whereby androgen‐dependent tumors relapse in patients undergoing androgen blockade, we developed a novel progression model for prostate cancer. The PC346C cell line, established from a transurethral resection of a primary tumor, expresses wild‐type (wt) androgen receptor (AR) and secretes prostate‐specific antigen (PSA). Optimal proliferation of PC346C requires androgens and is inhibited by the antiandrogen hydroxyflutamide. Orthotopic injection in the dorsal‐lateral prostate of castrated athymic nude mice did not produce tumors, whereas fast tumor growth occurred in sham‐operated males. Three androgen‐independent sublines were derived from PC346C upon long‐term in vitro androgen deprivation: PC346DCC, PC346Flu1 and PC346Flu2. PC346DCC exhibited androgen‐insensitive growth, which was not inhibited by flutamide. AR and PSA were detected at very low levels, coinciding with background AR activity in a reporter assay, which suggests that these cells have bypassed the AR pathway. PC346Flu1 and PC346Flu2 were derived by culture in steroid‐stripped medium supplemented with hydroxyflutamide. PC346Flu1 strongly upregulated AR expression and showed 10‐fold higher AR activation than the parental PC346C. PC346Flu1 proliferation was inhibited in vitro by R1881 at 0.1 nM concentration, consistent with a slower tumor growth rate in intact males than in castrated mice. PC346Flu2 carries the well‐known T877A AR mutation, causing the receptor to become activated by diverse nonandrogenic ligands including hydroxyflutamide. Array‐based comparative genomic hybridization revealed little change between the various PC346 lines. The common alterations include gain of chromosomes 1, 7 and 8q and loss of 13q, which are frequently found in prostate cancer. In conclusion, by in vitro hormone manipulations of a unique androgen‐dependent cell line expressing wtAR, we successfully reproduced common AR modifications observed in hormone‐refractory prostate cancer: downregulation, overexpression and mutation. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Subcellular distribution of Ras GTPase isoforms in normal human kidney.

BACKGROUND Ras GTPase isoforms have been implicated in proliferative renal disease and are known to have differential cellular expression in kidney. However, their exact subcellular location in various cells is unknown. METHODS Immunogold labelling for Ras isoforms (Harvey, Kirsten and Neural) was performed for subcellular localization under electron microscopy in fresh normal kidney specimens, obtained from the opposite pole of kidneys removed for renal cell cancer. RESULTS There was prominent staining shown by Ha-Ras only on the glomerular foot processes as compared with basement membrane or the endothelial cells. Mesangial cells showed intense staining in the cytosol with Ha-Ras (absent in the nucleus), minimal staining with Ki-Ras and none with N-Ras. In both the proximal and distal convoluted tubules, there was a clear staining of the mitochondria with Ha-Ras, with mild cytosolic staining with all of the isoforms. CONCLUSIONS Ras isoforms have distinct and separate subcellular distributions in normal kidney cells. Understanding the functional aspects of this distribution pattern is essential if Ras is to be targeted by genetic or molecular therapeutic tools.
Construction and application of a gene silencing system using a dual promoter silencing vector in Hypsizygus marmoreus

As efficient reverse genetic tools are lacking, molecular genetics research has been limited in Hypsizygus marmoreus. In this study, we firstly constructed a gene‐silencing method using a dual promoter vector (DPV) which was driven by gpd and 35 S promoters. The DPV was introduced into H. marmoreus via a simple electroporation procedure and the highest silenced rate of ura3 gene was 76.6%, indicating that the DPV might be suitable for gene silencing in basidiomycete. In this silencing system, the endogenous orotidine 5′‐monophosphate decarboxylase gene (ura3) was used as a selectable marker. Besides, we also constructed another silencing system which could silence the ura3 and other genes (lcc1 encoded laccase1) together in H. marmoreus, and named it as co‐silencing system. In the co‐silenced transformants, we found that the mycelia were thinner and the growth was slower than in the wild‐type and control2 strains, which was accordant with the previous study of lcc1 gene, indicating that the selective efficiency of the RNAi‐mediated silencing of several genes might be increased by co‐silencing ura3. The development of this molecular tool might improve functional studies of multiple genes in the basidiomycete H. marmoreus and also provide a reference for studies of other basidiomycetes.
Identification of vehicles in traffic video

Vehicle detection method based on traffic video surveillance is a fundamental element of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), due to its inclusive vehicle behavior data collection capabilities. In recent years, video processing have been extensively used in traffic management. From video monitoring systems, detection of vehicles can be achieved. Detection of vehicles in frames is done in most of the vehicle detection methods. Therefore, in order to gain the helpful information for traffic management such as real time traffic density and types of vehicles passing through roads future enhancement is needed. Vehicle detection is done using MSER(Maximally Stable Extremal Regions) feature detection method, feature extraction, feature matching and identification of vehicles based on feature vectors.
Interfaces pilotes-systèmes tactiles des cockpits aéronautiques : risques majeurs potentiels pour la sécurité aérienne et apports possibles des TEI (Tangible Embodied Interaction)

Dans le contexte Life-critical du cockpit des avions de ligne, la tendance est de remplacer les interfaces pilotes-systemes actuelles, qui associent affichage numerique des informations et controleurs physiques, par de nouvelles avioniques basees sur l’utilisation de larges surfaces tactiles. Le defi pour l'industrie est de repondre a la complexite croissante des systemes avec une plus grande flexibilite et des couts reduits. Les ecrans tactiles permettent egalement des interactions efficaces pour les pilotes, grâce a la manipulation directe des objets, la plasticite de l'interface, l'adaptabilite au contexte de vol ou une meilleure gestion des ressources cognitives. Bien que cette evolution technique offre de nombreux avantages, tant aux pilotes qu'aux constructeurs, la litterature scientifique souligne les serieux defauts du tactile qui pourraient limiter considerablement leur utilisation operationnelle et presenter des risques potentiels majeurs pour la securite aerienne. Nous presentons ici les premiers resultats du projet de recherche ANR AIRTIUS, associant deux partenaires academiques, l'ENAC (Ecole Nationale de l'Aviation Civile) et l'ISAE (Institut Superieur de l'Aeronautique et de l'Espace), et trois partenaires industriels, PME innovantes de la region Occitanie/Pyrenees Mediterranee : Astrolab, Ingenuity i/o et Intactile Design. Le projet AIRTIUS se fonde sur l’hypothese qu’une approche mixte des interfaces pilotes- systemes, visant a « augmenter » le tactile par des interactions tangibles et incarnees (TEI), prendrait mieux en compte les capacites sensori-motrices des pilotes, et permettrait d'identifier et de traiter les problemes potentiels poses par le tout tactile. L’objectif scientifique central du projet est de construire et d’evaluer cette hypothese a travers l'exploration d’espaces de design, methodes, techniques et dispositifs d’interaction pour le cockpit. Son objectif technique principal est de repondre aux besoins industriels d'evolution technologique des interfaces pilotes- systemes tout en garantissant la securite aerienne. Il vise notamment a augmenter le niveau de maturite technologique (TRL) des interactions tangibles dans le cockpit.
Liver involvement of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis in children.

OBJECTIVE Liver involvement is relatively frequent in children with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH). Its features remain poorly defined. METHODS A retrospective study was carried out on 14 hepatic LCH children in our hospital. The Clinicopathological and radiological features of this disease was discussed. RESULTS The rate of liver involvement in children LCH patients is 51.9%. Majority of the patients were disseminated cases. Hepatomegaly was clinically confirmed in 11 cases (78.6%). Liver function dysfunction was seen in nine (64.3%) children. The association of multi-modal imaging significantly yielded more diagnostic information. There are some imaging characteristics of this disease, CT and MRI could help to assess the staging, extent of the hepatic lesions. We found that liver involvement had a significant impact on survival. Patients treated with systemic chemotherapy earlier from time of diagnosis had a relatively better outcome. CONCLUSIONS The rate of liver involvement in children LCH patients maybe much higher than that of expected. We suggest that clinical and biological liver evaluation and abdominal imaging must be performed regularly onwards to screen every LCH children patient from the time of the initial diagnosis. Patient should be treated with systemic chemotherapy earlier.
Enhanced Phosphorylation of Src Family Kinase Substrates Containing SH2 Domain Binding Sites*

Src family protein-tyrosine kinases possess several modular domains important for regulation of catalytic activity and interaction with potential substrates. Here, we explore interactions between the SH2 domain of Hck, a Src family kinase, and substrates containing SH2 domain-binding sites. We have synthesized a series of peptide substrates containing a high affinity SH2 domain binding site, (phospho)Tyr-Glu-Glu-Ile. We show that the presence of this sequence in a peptide results in a dramatic increase in the phosphorylation rate of a second tyrosine located at the N terminus. Enhanced phosphorylation is not a consequence of stimulation of enzymatic activity by C-terminal tail displacement but is imparted instead by a 10-fold reduction in the K m of the phosphotyrosine-containing peptide when compared with a control. The isolated catalytic domain of the non-receptor tyrosine kinase Abl does not show a preference for the pYEEI motif-containing peptide; however, the preference is restored when the SH2 domain of Src is introduced into Abl. Furthermore, enhanced phosphorylation is dependent on the distance between SH2 domain-binding site and phosphorylatable tyrosine, with the minimum distance requirement being seven amino acids. Reversing the orientation of the pYEEI motif with respect to the substrate sequence decreases phosphorylation by down-regulated Hck, but both orientations are utilized equally well by activated Hck. We discuss the possible implications of these results for processive phosphorylation of substrates in vivo by Src family kinases.
An Integrated Quality Assessment for IPTV Operation and Maintenance

This paper proposes a novel quality assessment scheme for IPTV operation and maintenance. It is an integrated system to make the IPTV network fault location diagnosis more efficiently and accurately. Specifically, the potential user complaint and potential warning facility are integrated for constructing the IPTV service quality assessment system. When handling the determination of the potential warning facility, objective Quality of Experience (QoE) indicators reflecting users' viewing behaviors are considered and integrated with traditional Quality of Service (QoS) indicators. Based on this, a novel feature selection algorithm is proposed for replacing existing ones in decision tree generation and pruning, efficiently and feasibly realizing faulted equipment prediction. Experimental results show that the prediction accuracy for faulted equipments can be further enhanced when compared with existing algorithms.
Low power wireless receiver in CMOS mixed-signal for bio-telemetry implantable system

A novel mixed-signal interlace is presented for implantable interlace receiver consists of an analog front-end and a digital processing circuit. The analog circuit consists of mainly an amplifier, an ASK demodulator, a clock extraction and a power recovery. In this paper, the amplifier and the ASK demodulator are described and provided without the capacitor and the resistor, fully integrated, low-power circuit. We also developed the processing circuit with the digital technology, so that implementing the correct synchronous signal. The carrier frequency of the circuit is applied in the 10 MHz range, the data rates up to IM bits are supported, suitable for complex implantable microsystem such as the brain neural mutual interface and so on. Low-power and high-performance implantable interface using a CMOS technology has been designed, fabricated and verified. All of circuits were implemented in a standard 0.18-mum CMOS technology. The power dissipation of the mixed-signal micros stem is verified to be less than 2.75 mW @ 1.8 V.
Nitroglycerin Tolerance: Different Mechanisms in Vascular Segments With or Without Intact Endothelial Function

In vivo tolerance to nitroglycerin seems to be induced by an increase in vascular superoxide anion levels. In rabbits with normal endothelial function, in vivo induced tolerance is functionally reversed by ex vivo removal of the endothelium, probably due to a reduction in superoxide anion levels. However, the impact of in vivo endothelial dysfunction on tolerance development has not been examined. This study investigated how in vivo endothelium denudation affects the development of in vivo nitroglycerin tolerance. The effect of in vivo endothelium denudation was examined ex vivo (myograph experiments) after prolonged continuous nitroglycerin infusion in a conscious rat model. The vascular reactivity to nitroglycerin was studied in vivo in endothelium-denuded and corresponding endothelium-intact arteries. The results show that in vivo endothelium denudation does not affect the degree of tolerance development but significantly alters the effect of interventions targeted to inhibit tolerance development. In endothelium-intact vessels, superoxide dismutase and the angiotensin II receptor blocker losartan significantly inhibited tolerance-inducing properties of the prolonged nitroglycerin infusion (Emax, nitroglycerin response in % of normal controls: nitroglycerin tolerant 70%, superoxide dismutase 93%, losartan 99%). This effect was absent in in vivo endothelium-denuded segments (nitroglycerin tolerant 57%, superoxide dismutase 72%, losartan 60%). These findings suggest that interventions against in vivo tolerance development, within the same animal, may elicit different results depending on the presence or absence of an in vivo dysfunctional endothelium.
Expression of variable exon A-, B-, and C-specific CD45 determinants on peripheral and thymic T cell populations.

A mAb (I/24) has been generated that is specific for a determinant on mouse CD45 molecules. Reactivity of this mAb with a panel of CD45 transfected cell lines demonstrated that the determinant recognized is dependent upon expression of one or more CD45 variable exons and that exon C is sufficient for its expression. The exon C-specific epitope detected by I/24 is expressed at high density on essentially all B lymphocytes and at an intermediate density on the vast majority of CD8+ splenic T cells. Two distinct subpopulations of CD4+ splenic T cells were detected, a minor subpopulation that expresses this exon determinant at high density and a major subpopulation that expresses it at a much lower density. This first identification of a CD45RC-specific reagent allowed a comparison of the expression of exon A-, exon B-, and exon C-specific determinants on peripheral and thymic lymphoid populations. When splenic lymphocytes were analyzed for expression of CD45RA (reactive with mAb 14.8), CD45RB (reactive with mAb 23G2 or mAb 16.A), and CD45RC (reactive with mAb I/24) determinants, it was found that each of these CD45 determinants had a distinct pattern of expression on CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and B cells. CD45RB and RC epitopes were also detected at high density on a small proportion (0.7 to 4.1%) of thymocytes. Both CD45RB and RC epitopes were found predominantly on CD4-CD8- and CD4-CD8+ thymocytes but were also found on small numbers of CD4+CD8+ and CD4+CD8- cells. The population of thymocytes that expressed CD45RB and CD45RC determinants displayed a novel TCR CD3 phenotype characterized by a level of expression that was intermediate between that seen in the larger CD3 bright and CD3 dull populations of thymocytes.
The Determinants of Corporate Dividend Policy in Poland

Abstract The purpose of this research is to examine the factors that determine the dividend policy of non-financial firms listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) in Poland and that of the annually paid dividends. Up to now, many empirical studies related to dividend policy were carried out, showing the differentiation of factors affecting the dividend policy and their interaction. Thus, with this study, it would be possible to give a view on the dividend policy of corporations listed on the WSE for the period from 2008 to 2016. The study covers non-financial companies listed on the WSE in Poland. The Tobit regression is used to identify the impact of factors influencing the companies’ distribution of dividends. The variables that may explain a firm’s dividend decision and that were used in this study are selected based on the theory and available empirical researches and then also determined by data availability. These are profitability, investment opportunities, measures of size, leverage, and liquidity. As a result of this study, the factors that determine the dividend policy of companies were verified in the context of the companies listed on the WSE. Moreover, it indicates which of the existing theories on dividend policy could be applied to the capital markets of Poland. Thus, it provides new insights into the theory of dividend policy.
The Corrugated-Waveguide Sand-Pass Filter - A New Type of Waveguide Filter

A new type of waveguide band-pass filter has been realized by combining a corrugated low-pass structure and a high-pass configuration based on the cut-off effect. Low-pass and high-pass functions depend on each other. Therefore after an initial standard synthesis of both functions the overall filter geometry is optimized using an accurate CAD model to obtain the required band-pass response. The filter is especially suited for wide-band applications due to its good far out of band selectivity.
Incidence and risk factors of persistent low back pain following posterior decompression and instrumented fusion for lumbar disk herniation

Introduction The aim of this study was to explore the incidence and risk factors of persistent low back pain (PLBP) following posterior decompression and instrumented fusion for lumbar disk herniation and to provide references in decision-making and surgical planning for both spinal surgeons and surgically treated patients. Patients and methods By retrieving the medical records from January 2013 to December 2016, 221 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were classified as having PLBP if numeric rating scale (NRS) scores were >50 at all postoperative follow-up time points (3 months, 6 months, and 12 months). According to the occurrence of PLBP, patients were divided into two groups: PLBP group and non (N)-PLBP group. To investigate risk values for PLBP, the following three categorized factors were analyzed statistically. Patient characteristics: age, gender, body mass index (BMI), preoperative low back pain, comorbidity, smoking, and drinking. Surgical variables: surgical strategy, surgical segment, the number of fusion levels, surgery time, blood loss, and size of incision. Radiographic parameters: preoperative lumbar lordosis (LL), correction of LL at immediate postoperation, Modic changes, and preoperative paraspinal muscle degeneration. Results PLBP was detected in 16 patients and were enrolled into the PLBP group. There was no difference between the two groups in age, gender, BMI, comorbidity, smoking, and drinking. The preoperative low back pain was more severe in the PLBP group than that in the N-PLBP group. There was no difference in surgery time, blood loss, surgical strategy, number of fusion levels, and the size of incision. Surgery segment at L5–S1 was more prevalent in the PLBP group than that in the N-PLBP group, and there was no difference in preoperative LL, correction of LL, preoperative lumbar mobility, and Modic changes. The fatty infiltration rate (FIR) was larger in the PLBP group than that in the N-PLBP group. Multivariate logistic regression model revealed that preoperative low back pain (NRS > 35), surgery segment at L5–S1, and FIR > 15% were independently associated with PLBP. Conclusion The incidence of PLBP following posterior decompression and instrumented fusion for lumbar disk herniation is 7.2%, and the risk factors include preoperative low back pain, surgery segment at L5–S1, and preoperative paraspinal muscle degeneration.
Modulation of Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Monocyte Activation by Heparin-Binding Protein and Fucoidan

ABSTRACT Activated polymorphonuclear leukocytes release heparin-binding protein (HBP; also known as CAP37 or azurocidin) from azurophilic granules. HBP is a strong chemoattractant for monocytes that also prolongs monocyte survival and potentiates endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS])-induced production of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). We investigated the binding of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated HBP to human monocytes in the presence of EDTA and the polysaccharide fucoidan. EDTA, which chelates divalent cations, has been widely used to study the role of divalent cations in receptor-ligand interactions or enzyme activity. Fucoidan has been used to inhibit the binding of various ligands to scavenger receptors or selectins. Scavenger receptors are multiligand receptors that mediate endocytosis of proteases, protease-inhibitor complexes, lipoproteins, and LPS-lipid A. Fucoidan also interferes with leukocyte rolling by binding to L-selectins (expressed on leukocytes) and P-selectins (expressed on platelets and endothelium). We demonstrate that the binding of the neutrophil-derived protein HBP to monocytes is inhibited in the presence of EDTA and fucoidan. In addition, fucoidan and EDTA abrogate the enhancing effect of HBP on LPS-induced TNF-α production. These data provide supporting evidence that HBP binds to a receptor expressed on monocytes. This receptor is dependent on divalent cations and is possibly related to the scavenger receptor. Furthermore, we demonstrate that fucoidan, by itself, stimulates TNF-α release from isolated monocytes in a CD14-independent fashion. This is an important finding for the interpretation of results from studies that use fucoidan to “block” either scavenger receptors or L- or P-selectins.