Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The influence of an actin-modulating protein (AM-protein) from Physarum polycephalum on the cell motility of Amoeba proteus.

An actin-modulating protein (AM-protein) isolated from the acellular slime mold Physarum polycephalum and microinjected into living Amoeba proteus causes characteristic changes in cell shape, locomotory behaviour, and organization of the microfilament system of the amebae. The peptide chain weight of the AM-protein, which binds to one actin molecule with high affinity thus forming a heterodimer, is 43 000. The heterodimer is a powerful inhibitor of actin polymerization, when added to G-actin. A 50% inhibition is already obtained at a weight ratio of 0.05 AM-protein/actin. The AM-protein heterodimer has only little effect on F-actin, which can be neglected under the experimental conditions used. The microinjected AM-protein transforms normal locomoting polytactic amebae into orthotactic cell models. The orthotactic forms are characterized by a polarized organization, i.e. a flattened advancing cell pole consisting of one large pseudopod showing clear suppression of further pseudopod formation, and a contracting uroid undergoing cellular budding processes by the formation and vesiculation of numerous small evaginations. The observed changes in morphology can be interpreted as a relaxation of the advancing cell region due to a significant reduction of the polymerizable actin pool. As the AM-protein heterodimer does not attack F-actin filaments or the interaction of actin and myosin the middle region and the uroid of the microinjected cells are able to perform contractions which result in an orthotactic moving pattern. In conjunction with control experiments using double injection of AM-protein and phalloidin our observations prove the important role of controlled actin polymerization and depolymerization processes for cytoplasmic streaming activity and cell locomotion in ameboid cells.
Novel Ka-band ‘offset-divider/combiner’ with reflection cancellation

A novel power divider/combiner concept is presented and demonstrated at Ka-band. The new offset-divider/combiner concept provides reflection cancelation, and 1-to-N or N:/1 (arbitrary N, including odd numbers) splitting or summing with equal or unequal power division/summation. Additionally, it has inherently low loss due to its use of low impedance transmission lines. It can be implemented in most technologies (microstrip, CPW, stripline, waveguide, etc.). In this paper, the new concept is demonstrated with a 27-33 GHz divider/combiner using microstrip technology. The bandwidth can be easily expanded to cover an octave.
Towards Behavior-Aware Model Learning from Human-Generated Trajectories

Inverse reinforcement learning algorithms recover an unknown reward function for a Markov decision process, based on observations of user behaviors that optimize this reward function. Here we consider the complementary problem of learning the unknown transition dynamics of an MDP based on such observations. We describe the behavior-aware modeling (BAM) algorithm, which learns models of transition dynamics from user generated state-action trajectories. BAM makes assumptions about how users select their actions that are similar to those used in inverse reinforcement learning, and searches for a model that maximizes the probability of the observed actions. The BAM algorithm is based on policy gradient algorithms, essentially reversing the roles of the policy and transition distribution in those algorithms. As a result, BAM is highly ﬂexible, and can be applied to continuous state spaces using a wide variety of model representations. In this preliminary work, we discuss why the model learning problem is interesting, describe algorithms to solve this problem, and discuss directions for future work.
Impact of Local Government Behavior on Technological Innovation of Start-up Enterprises——Dual Perspectives of Technological Innovation Resource Allocation and Innovation Outputs

In the context of economy transition with the characteristic of market segmentation in China,local government has both incentives and capability to apply government subsidy and preferential income tax to support technological innovation of local start-ups. Focusing on start-ups,it empirically studies the effect of government subsidies and preferential income tax on technological innovation of local start-ups from the dual perspectives of technological innovation resource allocation and innovation outputs,and explores the complex relationship between local government behavior and the technological innovation of start-ups. The result indicates that local government subsidies are positively related to RD inputs and the inputs of human resources,and supports the hypothesis of incentive effects of local government.The result also shows that applicable tax rate and effective tax rate are negatively related to technological innovation resources allocation and innovation outputs for start-ups,and confirms that preferential income tax provided by local government can promote technological innovation of start-ups,and local government behavior has a time-lagged effect on technological innovation of start-ups.
Invisible Surface Charge Pattern on Inorganic Electrets

We propose an easy method to pattern the surface charge of SiO2 electrets without patterning the dielectric layer. By eliminating the use of metal guard electrodes, both the charge efficiency and the surface charge stability in humid environments improve. We apply the concept to a vibrational energy harvesting device, where a power output of 3 μW is successfully harvested at a low acceleration of 0.05 g and a resonant frequency of 414 Hz. No decay of the power output can be observed in a RH95% humidity test, which shows that the surface charge is stable and this is promising for application in harsh environments.
A comprehensive study on circularly polarized antenna

The need and importance of circular polarization for wireless communication has been discussed in this paper. The circular polarization antenna has exceptional ability to alleviate the harmful influence caused by multipath effects and to provide insensitivity of signals towards transmitter and receiver antenna orientation. Polarization reconfiguration realizes frequency reuse and is meaningful in the era of frequency shortage and also enhances the channel capacity and security complication in wireless systems. This paper covers almost all the topology used to design a polarization reconfiguration antenna, with suitable design examples present in the literature.
Generation of induced pluripotent stem cells using site-specific integration with phage integrase

To date, a large number of reports have described reprogramming many somatic cell types into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells, using different numbers of transcription factors and devising alternate methods of introducing the transcription factor genes or proteins into the somatic cells. Here, we describe a method using bacteriophage ΦC31 integrase to reprogram mouse embryonic fibroblasts and human amniotic fluid cells into iPS cells. These iPS cells showed morphology, surface antigens, gene expression, and epigenetic states similar to ES cells and formed teratomas with three germ layers in nonobese diabetic/severely compromised immunodeficient mice. Importantly, these iPS cells have only a single integration site in each cell line. The locations of integration favor the intergenic regions, and their distances from the adjacent genes extended from several hundred to >1 million bp. The effect of the insertion on the expression of these genes can be studied by RT-PCR. No insertion into microRNA gene loci was detected. Hence, it is possible to select cells in which adjacent gene functions are not affected, or the inserts can be removed if necessary. We conclude that phage integrase-mediated site-specific recombination can produce iPS cells that have undisturbed endogenous gene function and could be safe for future human therapeutic application.
Mantle cell lymphoma in the era of precision medicine-diagnosis, biomarkers and therapeutic agents

Despite advances in the development of clinical agents for treating Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL), treatment of MCL remains a challenge due to complexity and frequent relapse associated with MCL. The incorporation of conventional and novel diagnostic approaches such as genomic sequencing have helped improve understanding of the pathogenesis of MCL, and have led to development of specific agents targeting signaling pathways that have recently been shown to be involved in MCL. In this review, we first provide a general overview of MCL and then discuss about the role of biomarkers in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment for MCL. We attempt to discuss major biomarkers for MCL and highlight published and ongoing clinical trials in an effort to evaluate the dominant signaling pathways as drugable targets for treating MCL so as to determine the potential combination of drugs for both untreated and relapse/refractory cases. Our analysis indicates that incorporation of biomarkers is crucial for patient stratification and improve diagnosis and predictability of disease outcome thus help us in designing future precision therapies. The evidence indicates that a combination of conventional chemotherapeutic agents and novel drugs designed to target specific dysregulated signaling pathways can provide the effective therapeutic options for both untreated and relapse/refractory MCL.
Anticancer and antioxidative effects of micronized zeolite clinoptilolite.

BACKGROUND Treatment of cancer-bearing mice and dogs with micronized zeolite clinoptilolite (MZ) led to improvement of the overall health status, prolongation of life span and decrease of tumor size in some cases. It also reduced lipid peroxidation in the liver of mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experiments were performed on various tumor cell cultures and tumor-bearing animals. Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze if MZ could interfere with Doxorubicin-induced lipid peroxidation and consequential production of 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE). RESULTS MZ reduced the metabolic rate of cancer cells and increased binding of HNE to albumin in vitro. It selectively reduced generation of HNE in vivo in tumor stroma after Doxorubicin treatment leaving onset of lipid peroxidation intact in malignant cells. Combined treatment with Doxorubicin and MZ resulted in strong reduction of the pulmonary metastasis count increasing anticancer effects of Doxorubicin. CONCLUSION Interference of MZ with lipid peroxidation might explain some of the beneficial effects of this particular zeolite in combined cancer therapy.
AMPK Phosphorylation Modulates Pain by Activation of NLRP3 Inflammasome.

AIMS Impairment in adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity and NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation are associated with several metabolic and inflammatory diseases. In this study, we investigated the role of AMPK/NLRP3 inflammasome axis in the molecular mechanism underlying pain perception. RESULTS Impairment in AMPK activation induced by compound C or sunitinib, two AMPK inhibitors, provoked hyperalgesia in mice (p<0.001) associated with marked NLRP3 inflammasome protein activation and increased serum levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) (24.56±0.82 pg/ml) and IL-18 (23.83±1.882 pg/ml) compared with vehicle groups (IL-1β: 8.15±0.44; IL-18: 4.92±0.4). This effect was rescued by increasing AMPK phosphorylation via metformin treatment (p<0.001), caloric restriction diet (p<0.001), or NLRP3 inflammasome genetic inactivation using NLRP3 knockout (nlrp3(-/-)) mice (p<0.001). Deficient AMPK activation and overactivation of NLRP3 inflammasome axis were also observed in blood cells from patients with fibromyalgia (FM), a prevalent human chronic pain disease. In addition, metformin treatment (200 mg/daily), which increased AMPK activation, restored all biochemical alterations examined by us in blood cells and significantly improved clinical symptoms, such as, pain, fatigue, depression, disturbed sleep, and tender points, in patients with FM. INNOVATION AND CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that AMPK/NLRP3 inflammasome axis participates in chronic pain and that NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition by AMPK modulation may be a novel therapeutic target to fight against chronic pain and inflammatory diseases as FM.
Augmented Reality application: A new implementation chain

Augmented Reality (AR) is a live view of a real-world environment. With advanced AR technology, artificial information about the environment and its objects can be overlaid on the real world. This paper presents a complete augmented reality process for a video sequence captured by a moving camera. The main goal is to construct a full chain composed of 4 blocks that correspond to the main steps of augmented reality process: feature detection, feature extraction, feature matching and image registration. Our work proposes an improved technique for image augmentation, starting from feature detection and ending by image registration. We used the well-known techniques (e.g. SIFT, SURF, etc.) for features detection and extraction in order to compare their performance. Furthermore, we added a features learning step (using SVM, KNN and SRC) to improve the image registration process. The final full chain uses the best method in each block. This best combination is then applied on all video frames taken by the camera. Thereafter, we obtain a video showing the augmented object instead of the real one.
Survey of EKF based sensorless vector control methodologies for a permanent magnet synchronous motor

In the recent past, the use of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM) has increased due to the numerous advantages they offer. The accurate performance and precise speed and/or position control of a PMS motor requires precise information about the rotor shaft position and angular speed in order to synchronize the phase excitation pulses to the rotor position. In order to achieve the speed control various sensored methods are employed. Due to number of advantages, recent trend is to implement the sensorless drive for a PMSM. This paper presents the survey conducted in studying and understanding various methodologies of EKF based sensorless algorithms for the vector control drive of a PMSM.
Implementation of Artifact Detection in Critical Care: A Methodological Review

Artifact detection (AD) techniques minimize the impact of artifacts on physiologic data acquired in critical care units (CCU) by assessing quality of data prior to clinical event detection (CED) and parameter derivation (PD). This methodological review introduces unique taxonomies to synthesize over 80 AD algorithms based on these six themes: 1) CCU; 2) physiologic data source; 3) harvested data; 4) data analysis; 5) clinical evaluation; and 6) clinical implementation. Review results show that most published algorithms: a) are designed for one specific type of CCU; b) are validated on data harvested only from one OEM monitor; c) generate signal quality indicators (SQI) that are not yet formalized for useful integration in clinical workflows; d) operate either in standalone mode or coupled with CED or PD applications; e) are rarely evaluated in real-time; and f) are not implemented in clinical practice. In conclusion, it is recommended that AD algorithms conform to generic input and output interfaces with commonly defined data: 1) type; 2) frequency; 3) length; and 4) SQIs. This shall promote: a) reusability of algorithms across different CCU domains; b) evaluation on different OEM monitor data; c) fair comparison through formalized SQIs; d) meaningful integration with other AD, CED and PD algorithms; and e) real-time implementation in clinical workflows.
Intestinal colonization of broiler chickens by Campylobacter spp. in an experimental infection study

SUMMARY Consumption of poultry meat is considered as one of the main sources of human campylobacteriosis, and there is clearly a need for new surveillance and control measures based on quantitative data on Campylobacter spp. colonization dynamics in broiler chickens. We conducted four experimental infection trials, using four isolators during each infection trial to evaluate colonization of individual broiler chickens by Campylobacter jejuni over time. Individual and pooled faecal samples were obtained at days 4, 7 and 12 post-inoculation (p.i.) and caecal samples at day 12 p.i. There were large differences between broiler chickens in the number of C. jejuni in caecal and faecal material. Faecal samples of C. jejuni ranged from 4·0 to 9·4 log c.f. u. /g and from 4·8 to 9·3 log c.f. u. /g in the caeca. Faecal c.f. u. /g decreased with time p.i. Most variation in c.f. u. for faecal and caecal samples was attributed to broiler chickens and a minor part to isolators, whereas infection trials did not affect the total variance. The results showed that pooled samples within isolators had lower c.f. u. /g compared to the arithmetic mean of the individual samples. There was a significant correlation between faecal c.f. u. /g at days 4 and 7 p.i. , days 7 and 12 p.i. and for caecal and faecal c.f. u. /g at day 12 p.i.
Far from the madding crowd: collective wisdom in prediction markets

We investigate market selection and bet pricing in a repeated prediction market model. We derive the conditions for long-run survival of more than one agent (the crowd) and quantify the information content of prevailing prices in the case of fractional Kelly traders with heterogeneous beliefs. It turns out that, apart some non-generic situations, prices do not converge, neither almost surely nor on average, to true probabilities, nor are they always nearer to the truth than the beliefs of all surviving agents. This implies that, in general, prediction market prices are not maximum likelihood estimators of the true probabilities. However, when more than one agent survives, the average price emerging from a prediction market approximates the true probability with lower information loss than any individual belief.
Regulation of the Size and Distribution of Ectopic Neuromuscular Junctions in Adult Skeletal Muscle by Nerve-Derived Trophic Factor and Electrical Muscle Activity

Transplanted axons induced multiple, irregularly distributed acetylcholine receptor (AChR) aggregates on muscle fibers at early stages of ectopic neuromuscular junction formation in denervated adult rat soleus muscles. Subsequently, most AChR aggregates disappeared (the losers). A few aggregates survived (the winners) and, as part of the surviving junctions, reached a certain size and spatial separation along the fibers. This elimination of losers and development of winners occurred only in electrically active muscles whether the activity was elicited by intact axons or by electrical muscle stimulation after the axons had been cut early. We conclude that electrical muscle activity regulates the size and distribution of ectopic neuromuscular junctions by acting in conjunction with a nerve-derived priming influence that does not require the continued presence of nerve terminals.
Adenovirus proteins associated with mRNA and hnRNA in infected HeLa cells

The proteins that interact with cytoplasmic and nuclear polyadenylated RNA in adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) infection of HeLa cells were examined by UV-induced RNA-protein cross-linking in intact cells. The Ad5 100-kilodalton late nonvirion protein (100K protein) was cross-linked to both host and viral polyadenylated cytoplasmic RNA (mRNA). The cross-linking of the 100K protein to mRNA appears to correlate with productive infection, because the protein is not cross-linked to mRNA in abortive infection of wild-type Ad5 in monkey cells (CV-1) even though normal amounts of it are produced. However, when CV-1 cells are infected with Ad5 hr404, and Ad5 mutant which overcomes the host restriction to wild-type Ad5 infection in these cells, the 100K protein is cross-linked to mRNA. To identify and obtain antibodies to RNA-contacting proteins, a mouse was immunized with oligo(dT)-selected cross-linked RNA-protein complexes from Ad5-infected cells and the serum was used for immunoblotting experiments. It was found that in addition to the 100K protein, the Ad5 72K DNA-binding protein is also associated with RNA in the infected cells. The 72K DNA-binding protein is cross-linked to polyadenylated nuclear RNA sequences. These findings indicate that adenovirus proteins interact with RNAs in the infected cell and suggest possible mechanisms for the effects of the virus on mRNA metabolism.
Different Pedagogy, Different Politics: High School Learning Opportunities and Youth Political Engagement

Using data from an original two-wave panel survey of California high school students and a two-wave panel survey of high school students in Chicago, we find that different pedagogical approaches influence different forms of civic and political engagement. Specifically, controlling for prior levels of engagement and demographic factors, we find that open discussion of societal issues promotes engagement with political issues and elections. In contrast, service learning opportunities increase community-based and expressive actions. Both kinds of opportunities promoted commitments to participatory citizenship. These patterns can teach us about the kinds of opportunities (both in school and out) that can shape adolescents’ civic and political development.
Effects of neurofeedback versus stimulant medication in attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a randomized pilot study.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this pilot study was to compare the effects of 30 sessions of neurofeedback (NF) with stimulant medication on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) patients. METHODS Thirty-two medication-naïve ADHD patients, ages 7-16, from a neuropsychiatric clinic, were randomized to NF (n=16) or drug treatment (n=16). Other actions, such as parent management training, information, or support in school were given as needed, with no differences between the groups. All participants were assessed before treatment on two rating scales, each with parent and teacher forms. In addition, quantitative electroencephalogram (QEEG) and event-related potentials (ERPs), which included behavioral data from a go/no go test were administered. NF training took place in the clinic over a period of 7-11 months, and was followed by a repeat of the same assessment tools. The mean time interval between pre- and postassesment was not significantly different in the two groups. The 18 symptoms of ADHD (American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. (DSM-IV)) were used as the primary outcome measure. RESULTS Analysis of covariance revealed a significant difference between the groups at evaluation in favor of medication, with a large effect size. This picture was confirmed by other outcome measures. The QEEG spectral power in the theta and beta bands did not change in either group. In ERP, the P3 no go component increased significantly in 8 of 12 patients who had a clinically relevant medication effect, but did not increase in the medication nonresponders or the NF group. CONCLUSIONS Our study supports effects for stimulants, but not for NF. Effects of NF may require thorough patient selection, frequent training sessions, a system for excluding nonresponders, and active transfer training. The P3 no go ERP component may be a marker for treatment response.