Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Auditory Neural Pathway Simulation

We describe an effort to simulate the neural pathway from the inner ear (cochlea) to the primary auditory cortex in the brain. The human cochlea contains sensory cells (inner hair cells), which respond to the mechanical motion of traveling waves that sweep along the basilar membrane. Neurons triggered by the sensory cells carry sound signals from the cochlea to the brain through a series of a half-dozen transfer sites. At each junction, firing neurons stimulate some and inhibit other neighboring neurons. The signal processing effects of these interactions are not fully understood. The net behavior is difficult to observe in-vivo because the neurons are not easily accessible and only a relatively few can be measured at one time. As a result, the "neural code" that represents sound signals is not understood. We do know, however, that our perception of sound is much more refined than the signal observable at the cochlea. Frequencies are only broadly separated within the cochlea, for example, yet we are able to perceive very narrow differences in pitch. The simulation model we are constructing provides a means to fully instrument all of the neurons and their interactions. The model allows for a wide range of signal analysis experimentation, which we hope will help untangle how this neural processing works.
A rich multi-agent architecture for collaborative multi-touch multi-user devices

The paper discusses the open multi-agent architecture of a system comprising a large multitouch multi-user graphics table, a large interactive board, and a number of peripheral devices including tablets, smartphones, or earphones, used for supporting collocated collaborative work. The system comprises several computers connected in a network, or through WiFi or Bluetooth interfaces. The system software is organized around two multi-agent platforms. The first one, JADE, written in Java is used to integrate agents directly into the toolkits which use Java. The second one, OMAS, written in Lisp is used to implement conversational intelligent agents. The paper discusses the role and the use of both platforms and how they are connected to work together. Although developed in a project addressing collaborative Preliminary Design, the system and its architecture can be used in any application composed of sequences of phases.
Optimal scheduling of vegetation maintenance underneath overhead power distribution lines

The contact between vegetation and the power distribution lines is one of the major causes of interrupting the power service supply. In this paper, two new mathematical models are presented, and they are characterized by having monobjective function. The first one minimizes the non served energy level (NSEL) due to vegetation related failures in a power distribution system, and it is subjected to a set of constraints that include equipment availability, maximum number of vegetation pruning in a section of the system and the reliability constrain in the service. The second one has an objective function that works to minimize the average percentage of violation in the security zone which contains the minimum distance between the power lines and the vegetation. The results of the implementation by using Chu-Beasley Genetic Algorithm include the NSEL, the average percentage of violation in the security zone and the maintenance cost of the vegetation transferred to actual value, as well as the maintenance scheduling in a test system.
Are certain life histories particularly prone to local extinction?

Using stochastic simulations and elasticity analysis, we show that there are inherent differences in the risk of extinction between life histories with different demographies. Which life history is the most vulnerable depends on which vital rate varies. When juvenile survival varies semelparous organisms with delayed reproduction are the most vulnerable ones, while a varying developmental rate puts a greater threat to semelparous organisms with rapid development. Iteroparous organisms are the most vulnerable ones when adult survival varies. Generally, we do not expect to observe organisms in nature having variation in vital rates that produce a high risk of extinction. Given the results here we therefore predict that iteroparous organisms should show low variation in adult survival. Moreover, we predict that semelparous organisms should show low variation in juvenile survival and low variation in developmental rate. The effect of temporal correlation on extinction risk is most pronounced in organisms with semelparous life histories.
System-level design of networks-on-chip for heterogeneous systems-on-chip

The network-on-Chip (NoC) is a critical subsystem for many large-scale systems-on-chip (SoC). We present a complete framework for the design and optimization of NoCs at the system-level. By combining a library of pre-designed configurable NoC modules specified in SystemC with high-level synthesis, we can generate a variety of alternative 2D-Mesh NoC architectures for a given SoC. We also support the automatic synthesis of network interfaces to translate between IP-specific messages and NoC flits. We demonstrate our approach with the design-space exploration of two complete SoCs running complex applications on a high-end FPGA board.
Differential expression of the complement regulatory proteins in the human eye.

PURPOSE The presence of complement activation products in the human eye during infection or inflammation has been well described. During complement activation the host must be protected from attack against self tissue; this is achieved by three membrane-bound complement regulatory proteins: membrane cofactor protein (MCP, CD46), decay accelerating factor (DAF, CD55), and membrane attack complex inhibiting protein (CD59). This study was undertaken to analyze the expression of these proteins in the normal human eye. METHODS Tissues were sectioned by cryostat and both polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to MCP, DAF, and CD59 were used. Control stains were performed with nonrelevant antibodies of the same immunoglobulin subclass and normal rabbit serum as well as by omission of the primary and secondary antibodies. RESULTS All three proteins were found to be differentially expressed in the human eye. With anti-MCP, strong staining of the corneal epithelium and weak staining of the corneal keratocytes in stroma and photoreceptor cells was observed. Staining with anti-DAF was very strong in the corneal epithelium and the ciliary body and moderate in the corneal stroma (keratocytes) and iris. In contrast, anti-CD59 stained very strongly in the corneal epithelium, corneal stroma (keratocytes), iris, choroid, and all layers of the retina, and moderately in the ciliary body. CONCLUSIONS Identification of MCP, DAF, and CD59 in the human eye provides evidence that a regulatory system exists to protect these cells from destruction by complement-activating events. It remains to be determined if other more specialized functions exist for these proteins, especially in the case of CD59 because of its extensive expression in the retina.
Adenine Nucleotide Degradation in Striated Muscle

Adenine nucleotides play a central role in cellular processes involving the transduction of energy. Among striated muscles, the management of adenine nucleotide catabolism differs greatly. These differences can be understood by considering the distribution, activity, and kinetic characteristics of degradative enzymes. When these factors are weighed in light of the differing energetic demands faced by heart and skeletal muscle fiber types, a coherent picture emerges. Our analysis suggests that, as the routine energy demand of a particular muscle rises in relation to the tissue's capacity for oxidative metabolism, the pattern of adenine nucleotide degradation shifts toward increased rates of AMP deamination along with lessened rates of dephosphorylation.
Differential stimulation of sea urchin early and late H2B histone gene expression by a gastrula nuclear extract after injection into Xenopus laevis oocytes

Sea urchin early histone genes are active in preblastula embryos; late histone genes are maximally expressed during subsequent stages of embryogenesis. We used the Xenopus laevis oocyte to assay for trans-acting factors involved in this differential regulation. Sea urchin nuclear proteins were prepared by extracting gastrula-stage chromatin successively with 0.45, 1, and 2 M NaCl. We injected three fractions into oocytes along with plasmids bearing sea urchin early and late H2b histone genes. While neither the 0 to 0.45 M nor the 1 to 2 M salt fraction affected H2b gene expression, the 0.45 to 1 M salt fraction stimulated early and late H2b mRNA levels significantly. Late H2b gene expression was stimulated preferentially when the early and late genes were coinjected into the same oocytes. This extract did not stimulate the accumulation of transcripts of injected herpesvirus thymidine kinase genes or of the sea urchin Spec 1 gene, suggesting that the stimulatory activity is not a general transcription factor. We localized the DNA sequence required for the stimulatory effect to a region of the late H2b gene located between -43 and +62 relative to the transcription start site. A component of the 0.45 to 1 M salt wash fraction specifically bound to the 105-base-pair late gene DNA sequence and to the corresponding early gene fragment. The abundance of this binding activity decreased on a per genome basis during early development of the sea urchin.
DNA spatial distribution in unfertilized human oocytes by confocal laser scanning microscope

The aim of this study is to investigate the DNA spatial distribution in unfertilized human oocytes by confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). One hundred and forty unfertilized oocytes after conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and one hundred and three after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were studied. The chromatin was stained with chromomycin A3 (CA3) initially and at a second step with propidium iodide, allowing the observation of the deprotaminated sperm heads in the ooplasm. CLSM offered the opportunity for studying the three‐dimensional position of the spermatozoon in the oocyte and the description of the status of the maternal and paternal chromatin. For each of the IVF and ICSI group of unfertilized oocytes, subgroups were performed according to the status of the maternal and paternal chromatin. The maternal chromosomes were either aligned at metaphase II or disarrayed at metaphase II, and the sperm head was either condensed or swollen/decondensed. Few oocytes were activated and formed a pronucleus. The spatial approaching between paternal and maternal chromatin was calculated for all subgroups of unfertilized oocytes and the distances were compared among them. There was no statistical difference in the distance between the spermatozoon and the maternal chromatin among subgroups of the IVF group, while statistical differences occurred among subgroups of the ICSI group. The spermatozoa in the IVF group approached maternal chromatin more than those in the ICSI group. Movement of the spermatozoon into the oocyte and chromatin remodeling for the formation of pronucleus seem to occur independently and are possibly directed by different mechanisms. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 62: 368–374, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
[Association between polymorphisms of metabolic genes and telomere length in workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between the polymorphisms of metabolic genes and telomere length of genomic DNA in peripheral blood of workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). METHODS One hundred and forty five coke-oven workers exposed to PAHs and sixty eight non-exposed medical staffs were recruited in this study. Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) served as the internal exposure dose of PAHs for all subjects. Relative telomere length (RTL) of genomic DNA in peripheral blood was used as telomere length and measured by real-time PCR. Polymorphisms of metabolic genes were detected by PCR-based methods. RESULTS Compared with control group, the exposure group shown a decreased RTL (1.10 +/- 0.75 vs 1.43 +/- 1.06, P < 0.05). In the coke-oven workers, after adjusting the sex, age, cigarettes per day and urinary 1-OHP, RTL (1.25 +/- 0.93) of workers with CT genotype at the CYP1A1 3801 T > C was significantly longer than that (0.93 +/- 0.51) of workers with TT genotype (P < 0.05). RTL (0.90 +/- 0.58) of individuals with the Tyr/His genotype at mEH Tyr113His was significantly shorter than that (1.24 +/- 0.90) of individuals with the Tyr/Tyr genotype (P < 0.05). RTL (1.02 +/- 0.64) of individuals with the CT genotype at AHR rs10250822 was significantly shorter than that (1.36 +/- 1.14) of individuals with the CC genotype (P < 0.05). RTL (0.93 +/- 0.54) of individuals with the AT genotype at AHR rs10247158 was significantly shorter than that (1.19 +/- 0.84) of individuals with the AA genotype (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION The results of present study suggested that PAHs exposure could induce the shorted RTL, CYP1A1, mEH, AHR polymorphisms might influence the change of telomere length of genomic DNA in peripheral blood of workers exposed to PAHs.
Knowledge-Intensive Innovative Entrepreneurship

The interplay between innovation, knowledge and entrepreneurship constitutes a major driver of the economic, social and cultural development in modern societies and has major implications for public policy. To understand these broad trends, a novel literature on knowledge-intensive innovative entrepreneurship has recently emerged. In this book we provide a presentation of the key concepts, the relevant empirical findings and the main specific insights. We take a Schumpeterian, evolutionary and innovation system view of entrepreneurship, knowledge and innovation. In the conceptual framework proposed in this book, knowledge-intensive innovative entrepreneurs are involved in the creation, diffusion and use of knowledge; introduce new products and technologies; draw resources and ideas from the innovation system in which they operate; and introduce change and dynamism into the economy. This volume provides detailed insights into the progress made in defining and understanding knowledge-intensive innovative entrepreneurship both theoretically and empirically; in discussing the current analytical understanding and empirical evidence; and in proposing the key directions and topics for future research.
Arterial Injury in Mice with Severe Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) Deficiency

Background: Insulin-like growth factor-1 plays a significant role in wound healing. Injury to the arterial wall is followed by a marked increase in insulin-like growth factor-1 expression and inhibition of insulin-like growth factor-1 action is associated with diminished intimal thickening after injury. Methods and Results: The role of insulin-like growth factor-1 in arterial response to cuffinjury was investigated in genetically modified mice with severe insulin-like growth factor-1 deficiency (m/m mice). Tissue and serum insulin-like growth factor-1 was severely decreased, by 40% to 60% before the injury and by 50% to 60% following the arterial injury in insulin-like growth factor-1 m/m mice compared to control mice. Nevertheless, following the cuff induced injury to the carotid arteries, insulin-like growth factor-1m/m mice had a similar number of proliferating medial cells 3 days after injury and similar neointimal thickening (0.019 ± 0.015 C57BL/6J vs. 0.016 ± 0.014 mm2, P = 0.26) 21 days after injury compared to wild type C57BL/6J mice. The phases of the response to injury that are mediated by insulin-like growth factor-1 were studied with recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 in rats with balloon-injured femoral arteries. Treatment of rats with recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 increased neointimal thickening (0.0265 ± 0.0099 vs 0.0156 ± 0.0049 mm2, P = 0.03), intimal smooth muscle cell numbers (195.6 ± 40.2 vs 145.3±27.3; P = 0.03), and the ratio of proliferating intimal to medial smooth muscle cells (10.7 ± 6.9 vs 3.0 ± 2.1; P = 0.03) 7 days after injury compared to untreated rats. At 14 days neointimal area was similar in the 2 groups of rats. Conclusions: The data in insulin-like growth factor-1 deficient mice suggest a relatively low threshold tissue concentration for insulin-like growth factor-1 to exhibit its role in vascular response to injury. The findings in rats treated with recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 suggest that insulin-like growth factor-1 is primarily involved in the early phases of neointimal formation.
[Overexpression of programmed cell death 5 factor enhances triptolides-induced fibroblast-like synoviocytes apoptosis in rheumatoid arthritis].

OBJECTIVE To explore the effect of programmed cell death 5(PDCD5) on apoptosis of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes(RA FLS) induced by triptolide. METHODS Cultured synovial cells in vitro from RA patients were transfected with Ad-PDCD5.At protein level, expression of PDCD5 in RA FLS infected with Ad-PDCD5 was detected by Western blot.RA FLS infected with Ad-PDCD5 were cultured in presence or absence of triptolide and apoptosis of RA FLS was determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS Infection of RA FLS with increasing concentrations of Ad-PDCD5(50-300 MOI) resulted in a does-dependent increase in the production of PDCD5. Apoptotic cells percentage for noinfection group, Ad-null group and Ad-PDCD5 group were(22.41 +/- 3.87)%, (28.77 +/- 12.97)% and (48.87 +/- 12.69)%, respectively. Alternatively, infection without addition of triptolide stimuli had no effect. The data showed that gene transfection of PDCD5 alone without addition of triptolide was not sufficient to activate RA FLS apoptosis, PDCD5 acted as an enhancer rather than inductor of apoptosis. CONCLUSION Overexpression of PDCD5 could enhance apoptosis of RA FLS induced by triptolide, PDCD5 may be a potential therapeutic target to RA.
The RafC1 Cysteine-Rich Domain Contains Multiple Distinct Regulatory Epitopes Which Control Ras-Dependent Raf Activation

ABSTRACT Activation of c-Raf-1 (referred to as Raf) by Ras is a pivotal step in mitogenic signaling. Raf activation is initiated by binding of Ras to the regulatory N terminus of Raf. While Ras binding to residues 51 to 131 is well understood, the role of the RafC1 cysteine-rich domain comprising residues 139 to 184 has remained elusive. To resolve the function of the RafC1 domain, we have performed an exhaustive surface scanning mutagenesis. In our study, we defined a high-resolution map of multiple distinct functional epitopes within RafC1 that are required for both negative control of the kinase and the positive function of the protein. Activating mutations in three different epitopes enhanced Ras-dependent Raf activation, while only some of these mutations markedly increased Raf basal activity. One contiguous inhibitory epitope consisting of S177, T182, and M183 clearly contributed to Ras-Raf binding energy and represents the putative Ras binding site of the RafC1 domain. The effects of all RafC1 mutations on Ras binding and Raf activation were independent of Ras lipid modification. The inhibitory mutation L160A is localized to a position analogous to the phorbol ester binding site in the protein kinase C C1 domain, suggesting a function in cofactor binding. Complete inhibition of Ras-dependent Raf activation was achieved by combining mutations K144A and L160A, which clearly demonstrates an absolute requirement for correct RafC1 function in Ras-dependent Raf activation.
Photodynamic therapy of actinic keratosis with topical 5-aminolevulinic acid. A pilot dose-ranging study.

OBJECTIVE To examine the safety and efficacy of photodynamic therapy using topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and red light to treat actinic keratoses (AKs). DESIGN Actinic keratoses were treated with topical ALA (concentrations of 0%, 10%, 20%, or 30%) under occlusion for 3 hours. Before photodynamic therapy, sites were examined for fluorescence. Sites were irradiated with an argon pumped dye laser (630 nm) at fluences of 10 to 150 J/cm2. SETTING Academic medical center. PATIENTS Forty patients with 6 clinically typical, previously untreated AKs per patient. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Complete resolution and decrease in lesion area of the AK relative to baseline evaluated at weeks 1, 4, 8, and 16. RESULTS Three hours after ALA administration, lesions showed moderate red fluorescence. Cutaneous phototoxic effects, localized erythema and edema, peaked at 72 hours. Patients experienced mild burning and stinging during light exposure. Eight weeks after a single treatment using 30% ALA, there was total clearing of 91% of lesions on the face and scalp and 45% of lesions, on the trunk and extremities. No significant differences were observed in clinical responses with treatment using 10%, 20%, or 30% ALA. All concentrations of ALA were more effective than treating AKs with vehicle and light. CONCLUSIONS Topical photodynamic therapy with ALA is an effective treatment of typical AKs. Complete clearing of nonhypertrophic AKs can be achieved with 10%, 20%, or 30% ALA that is easily tolerated by the patient. Lesions on the face and scalp are more effectively treated than lesions on the trunk and extremities. Hypertrophic AKs did not respond effectively.
The Role of Transparency in Auditing

The concepts of auditing and transparency frequently appear in discussions about contemporary public&#8208;sector challenges, but the relationship between them rarely has been examined. This paper argues that transparency might be viewed as both an effect of auditing and a prerequisite for auditing. Broadly speaking, the former tends to be articulated more in the auditing literature&#8212;where transparency often justifies auditing&#8212;while the latter often appears in the transparency literature. By proposing a distinction between &#8220;raw transparency&#8221; and &#8220;refined transparency,&#8221; this paper strives to increase conceptual clarity and establish a theoretical basis for various auditing activities.