Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ORCA: a high speed, high density FPGA architecture

The Optimized Reconfigurable Cell Array (ORCA) is an SRAM-based field programmable gate array (FPGA) architecture that makes FPGAs attractive in applications that were previously reserved for gate arrays. The ORCA has an architecture that assures dense layouts of all major types of functionality needed, including data path, random logic, and SRAM. The ORCA FPGA utilizes a novel approach to routing interconnect to achieve a 40% to 100% increase in density over traditional SRAM-based FPGA architectures. The resulting compaction of logic functions into fewer programmable logic cells coupled with dedicated fast arithmetic circuits permits system clock rates of 80 MHz. The ORCA software was designed in parallel with the architecture to insure that all of the benefits of the architecture would be accessible to users through the algorithms of the software. This eliminates the need for users to obtain a detailed knowledge of the architecture in order to use it efficiently. Instead, high-density, high-speed designs are produced automatically by software, with virtually no need for manual intervention on the part of the user. <<ETX>>
A delayed diagnosis of acute myeloid leukaemia during pregnancy using an old blood cell analyser

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) during pregnancy is a rare haematological disorder, and delays in its diagnosis and treatment can worsen the maternal and foetal prognosis (Ali et al. 2015). A complete blood count (CBC) with a differential white blood cell (WBC) count is helpful for diagnosing AML (Rabizadeh et al. 2015; Arber et al. 2017), and automated blood cell analysers can generally provide valuable data in these cases. We present a case of AML during pregnancy with a delayed diagnosis, which highlights the risk of depending on the results from automated blood cell analysers and the importance of manual blood smear reviews.
Some Improvements for Monte-Carlo Tree Search, Game Description Language Compilati

Game Automatons (GAs) are a model of sequential finite multiplayer games. Monte-Carlo Tree Search (MCTS) is a recent framework for building an Artificial Intelligence (AI) for board game playing requiring potentially no domain specific knowledge. Our work revolves around the application of MCTS to GAs. This thesis contributes three different main parts. We implement a forward chaining compiler for the General Game Playing (GGP) problem; the input is translated from the declarative Game Description Language (GDL) to a GA that can be interfaced with a playing program. We enhance MCTS with an algorithm to keep track of admissible bounds that allows to solve certain positions and improves the playing strength in general. We study how transpositions can be used in MCTS, in particular, we propose a parametric adaptation of the Upper Confidence bound for Trees (UCT) algorithm to the Direct Acyclic Graph (DAG) case.
Predicting terrorist actions using sequence learning and past events

This paper describes the application of sequence learning to the domain of terrorist group actions. The goal is to make accurate predictions of future events based on learning from past history. The past history of the group is represented as a sequence of events. Well-established sequence learning approaches are used to generate temporal rules from the event sequence. In order to represent all the possible events involving a terrorist group activities, an event taxonomy has been created that organizes the events into a hierarchical structure. The event taxonomy is applied when events are extracted, and the hierarchical form of the taxonomy is especially useful when only scant information is available about an event. The taxonomy can also be used to generate temporal rules at various levels of abstraction. The generated temporal rules are used to generate predictions that can be compared to actual events for evaluation. The approach was tested on events collected for a four-year period from relevant newspaper articles and other open-source literature. Temporal rules were generated based on the first half of the data, and predictions were generated for the second half of the data. Evaluation yielded a high hit rate and a moderate false-alarm rate.
Silencing of PTGS2 exerts promoting effects on angiogenesis endothelial progenitor cells in mice with ischemic stroke via repression of the NF‐κB signaling pathway

The objective of the current study is to investigate the effect of PTGS2 on proliferation, migration, angiogenesis and apoptosis of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in mice with ischemic stroke through the NF‐κB signaling pathway. Middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established in mice. EPCs were identified, in which ectopic expression and depletion experiments were conducted. The mRNA and protein expression of related factors in tissues and cells were measured. Besides, proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and apoptosis, as well as cell cycle distribution, of cells were determined. MCAO mice showed overexpression of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), IL‐17, and IL‐23, and increased positive protein expression of PTGS2, as well as expression of PTGS2, nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB), tumor suppressor region 1 (TSP‐1) and Bcl‐2‐associated X protein (Bax), but underexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), S‐phase kinase associated protein 2 (Skp2), and B‐cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‐2). Moreover, ectopic expression of tumor necrosis factor‐α significantly elevated the expression of PTGS2, NF‐κB, TSP‐1, and Bax, as well as cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, but decreased the expression of VEGF, Skp2, and Bcl‐2, as well as proliferation, migration and angiogenesis of EPCs, and the PTGS2‐siRNA group showed an opposite trend. Taken together, we conclude that the specific knockdown of PTGS2 expression could repress the NF‐κB signaling pathway, thereby inhibits apoptosis and promotes proliferation, migration and angiogenesis of EPCs, providing protective effect on mice with ischemic stroke.
Antiphosphatidylserine/prothrombin complex antibodies as a determinant of prothrombotic plasma fibrin clot properties in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome

Antiphosphatidylserine/prothrombin complex (aPS/PT) antibodies are recognized as a marker for antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Dense and poorly lysable fibrin clots occur in thrombotic APS. Compact clots predict thromboembolism, but determinants of the unfavorable clot phenotype remain unknown in APS. We hypothesized that elevated aPS/PT antibodies determine unfavorable clot features.
Imagery-Mediated Verbal Learning Depends on Vividness–Familiarity Interactions: The Possible Role of Dualistic Resting State Network Activity Interference

Using secondary database analysis, we tested whether the (implicit) familiarity of eliciting noun-cues and the (explicit) vividness of corresponding imagery exerted additive or interactive influences on verbal learning, as measured by the probability of incidental noun recall and image latency times (RTs). Noun-cues with incongruent levels of vividness and familiarity (high/low; low/high, respectively) at encoding were subsequently associated at retrieval with the lowest recall probabilities, while noun-cues related with congruent levels (high/high; low/low) were associated with higher recall probabilities. RTs in the high vividness and high familiarity grouping were significantly faster than all other subsets (low/low, low/high, high/low) which did not significantly differ among each other. The findings contradict: (1) associative theories predicting positive monotonic relationships between memory strength and learning; and (2) non-monotonic plasticity hypothesis (NMPH), aiming at generalizing the non-monotonic relationship between a neuron’s excitation level and its synaptic strength to broad neural networks. We propose a dualistic neuropsychological model of memory consolidation that mimics the global activity in two large resting-state networks (RSNs), the default mode network (DMN) and the task-positive-network (TPN). Based on this model, we suggest that incongruence and congruence between vividness and familiarity reflect, respectively, competition and synergy between DMN and TPN activity. We argue that competition or synergy between these RSNs at the time of stimulus encoding disproportionately influences long term semantic memory consolidation in healthy controls. These findings could assist in developing neurophenomenological markers of core memory deficits currently hypothesized to be shared across multiple psychopathological conditions.
The Distinct Roles of CXCR3 Variants and Their Ligands in the Tumor Microenvironment

First thought to orchestrate exclusively leukocyte trafficking, chemokines are now acknowledged for their multiple roles in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Dysregulation of their normal functions contributes to various pathologies, including inflammatory diseases and cancer. The two chemokine receptor 3 variants CXCR3-A and CXCR3-B, together with their cognate chemokines (CXCL11, CXCL10, CXCL9, CXCL4, and CXCL4L1), are involved in the control but also in the development of many tumors. CXCR3-A drives the infiltration of leukocytes to the tumor bed to modulate tumor progression (paracrine axis). Conversely, tumor-driven changes in the expression of the CXCR3 variants and their ligands promote cancer progression (autocrine axis). This review summarizes the anti- and pro-tumoral activities of the CXCR3 variants and their associated chemokines with a focus on the understanding of their distinct biological roles in the tumor microenvironment.
Conditioned taste aversion versus avoidance: A re-examination of the separate processes hypothesis

Rats not only avoid ingesting a substance associated with LiCl toxicosis, but they display rejection reflexes (e.g., gapes) to its taste; this latter response is thought to reflect disgust or taste aversion. Prior work has shown that rats also avoid consuming foods/fluids associated with other adverse gastrointestinal (GI) effects like lactose indigestion but without the concomitant change in oromotor responses (taste reactivity; TR) indicative of aversion. Because of interpretive limitations of the methods used in those studies, we revisited the taste aversion-avoidance distinction with a design that minimized non-treatment differences among groups. Effects on intake and preference (Experiments 1a, 1b, and 2), as well as consummatory (TR, Experiment 1a and 1b) and appetitive (Progressive Ratio, Experiment 2) behaviors to the taste stimulus were assessed after training. In both experiments, rats were trained to associate 0.2% saccharin (CS) with intraduodenal infusions of LiCl, Lactose, or NaCl control. Rats trained with 18% lactose, 0.3 and 1.5 mEq/kg dose of LiCl subsequently avoided the taste CS in post-training single-bottle intake tests and two-bottle choice tests. However, only those trained with 1.5 mEq/kg LiCl displayed post-conditioning increases in taste CS-elicited aversive TR (Experiment 1a and 1b). This dose of LiCl also led to reductions in breakpoint for saccharin. The fact that conditioned avoidance is not always accompanied by changes in other common appetitive and/or consummatory indices of ingestive motivation further supports a functional dissociation between these processes, and highlights the intricacies of visceral influences on taste-guided ingestive motivation.
Using kinetics and modeling to predict denitrification fluxes in elemental‐sulfur‐based biofilms

Elemental sulfur (S0) can serve as an electron donor for water and wastewater denitrification, but few researchers have addressed the kinetics of S 0–based reduction of nitrate (NO 3 −), nitrite (NO 2 −), and nitrous oxide (N 2O). In addition, S 0‐based denitrifying biofilms are counter‐diffusional. This is because the electron donor (S 0) is supplied from the biofilm attachment surface while the acceptor, for example, NO 3 −, is supplied from the bulk liquid. No existing mathematical model for S 0‐based denitrification considers this behavior. In this study, batch tests were used to determine the kinetic parameters for the reduction of NO 3 −, NO 2 −, and N 2O. Additionally, a biofilm model was developed to explore the effects of counter‐diffusion on overall fluxes, that is, the mass of NO 3 − or NO 2 − removed per unit biofilm support area per unit time. The maximum specific substrate utilization rates ( q ˆ ) for NO 3 −, NO 2 −, and N 2O were 3.54, 1.98, and 6.28 g N g COD −1·d −1, respectively. The maximum specific growth rates ( µ ˆ ) were 0.71, 1.21, and 1.67 d −1 for NO 3 − to NO 2 −, NO 2 − to N 2O, and N 2O to N 2, respectively. Results suggest that the observed NO 2 − accumulation during S 0‐based denitrification results from a low q ˆ for NO 2 − relative to that for NO 3 −. The high q ˆ for N 2O, relative to that for NO 3 − and NO 2 −, suggest that little N 2O accumulation occurs during denitrification. A counter‐diffusional biofilm model was used to predict trends for NO 3 − fluxes, and confirmed NO 2 − accumulation in S 0‐based denitrification biofilms. It also explains the observed detrimental effects of biofilm thickness on denitrification fluxes. This study allows a more accurate prediction of NO 3 −, NO 2 −, and N 2O transformations in S 0‐based denitrification.
An unexpected microbiological finding in a blood film

A 15-month-old girl with history of microcolon and proximal colostomy was hospitalised because of dehydration resulting from severe diarrhoea. During admission, due to lack of peripheral venous access, a central venous catheter was inserted. Two days later she developed fever and blood cultures were performed due to suspicion of bacteraemia. Laboratory tests showed leucocytosis (WBC 26 81 9 10/l) with neutrophilia (22 01 9 10/l) and C-reactive protein 176 19 nmol/ l. A peripheral blood film showed 94% vacuolated neutrophils and neutrophil agglutination. Examination of the tail of the blood film revealed neutrophils with phagocytosed bacilli and free-lying bacilli (images). Pantoea agglomerans was isolated both on blood culture and by culture from the catheter tip. Pantoea agglomerans is an environmental rod-shaped Gram-negative bacillus, which is rarely responsible for infections in humans. Isolation of P. agglomerans has been reported in cases of wound infection, septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, bacteraemia, pneumonia, peritonitis, urinary tract infection and endophthalmitis. The findings reported here underline the importance of performing a complete evaluation of the peripheral blood film, from head to tail. Note that bacilli were only observed in the tail of the film. The presence of 94% of vacuolated and agglutinated neutrophils reflects the gravity of the infection.
Adolescent Beverage Intake in Relation to Actigraphy-assessed Sleep Duration, Timing, and Fragmentation (P18-100-19).

Objectives To examine whether usual beverage intake was associated with sleep timing, duration, and fragmentation among adolescents. Methods The study population included 528 Mexico City adolescents enrolled in a longitudinal study. Beverage intake over the last week was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. The following beverage groups were analyzed: milk, sweetened milk, regular soda, coffee/tea, 100% fruit juice, commercial fruit juice with sugar, fruit drink/flavored water with sugar, and plain water. Sleep timing, duration, and fragmentation were assessed with 7-day actigraphy. Overall and sex-stratified linear regression was conducted with sleep characteristics as separate outcomes and quantiles of energy-adjusted beverage intake as exposures, accounting for sex, age, maternal education, physical activity, and smoking. Results The mean age (SD) was 14.4 (2.1) years; 48% were male. The most commonly consumed drinks were water, milk, soda, and fruit juice with added sugar (energy-adjusted mean = 666 (557) mL per day, 360 (278) mL per day, 225 (251) mL per day and 203 (263) mL per day, respectively). In overall regression analysis, soda was associated with later sleep timing; those in the 4th (highest) quartile of soda consumption had a 19 minute later weekday sleep timing than those in the lowest quartile [95% CI 1, 37]. Among boys, milk and water consumption were each associated with longer weekday sleep duration (25 [1, 48] and 26 [4, 47] more minutes, respectively in the 4th compared to the 1st quartile); and higher 100% fruit juice consumption was related to earlier weekday sleep timing (-22 [-28, 1] minutes in the 1st compared to the last quantile; P trend = 0.03). Among girls, soda was associated with higher sleep fragmentation (1.6 [0.4, 2.8] % in the 4th compared to the 1st), and coffee/tea consumption was related to shorter weekend sleep duration (-23 [-44, -2] minutes in the 4th compared to the 1st). Conclusions Higher soda intake was associated with later sleep midpoint in boys and girls, while other beverages were associated with sleep in a sex-specific manner. Among girls, adverse associations with sleep were observed for caffeinated drinks only, while boys with higher consumption of water, milk, and natural juice had evidence of healthier sleep. Funding Sources NIH/NIEHS, EPA.
Draft Genome Sequence of Strain LSUCC0057, a Member of the SAR92 Clade of Gammaproteobacteria

We present the draft genome sequence of strain LSUCC0057, a member of the SAR92 clade of Gammaproteobacteria, isolated from coastal waters near Buras, LA. The genome contains proteorhodopsin and indicates the potential for aerobic heterotrophy, assimilatory sulfate reduction, and carotenoid biosynthesis. ABSTRACT We present the draft genome sequence of strain LSUCC0057, a member of the SAR92 clade of Gammaproteobacteria, isolated from coastal waters near Buras, LA. The genome contains proteorhodopsin and indicates the potential for aerobic heterotrophy, assimilatory sulfate reduction, and carotenoid biosynthesis.
MAPT/Tau accumulation represses autophagy flux by disrupting IST1-regulated ESCRT-III complex formation: a vicious cycle in Alzheimer neurodegeneration

ABSTRACT Macroautophagy/autophagy deficit induces intracellular MAPT/tau accumulation, the hallmark pathology in Alzheimer disease (AD) and other tauopathies; however, the reverse role of MAPT accumulation in autophagy and neurodegeneration is not clear. Here, we found that overexpression of human wild-type full-length MAPT, which models MAPT pathologies as seen in sporadic AD patients, induced autophagy deficits via repression of autophagosome-lysosome fusion leading to significantly increased LC3 (microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3)-II and SQSTM1/p62 (sequestosome 1) protein levels with autophagosome accumulation. At the molecular level, intracellular MAPT aggregation inhibited expression of IST1 (IST1 factor associated with ESCRT-III), a positive modulator for the formation of ESCRT (the Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport) complex that is required for autophagosome-lysosome fusion. Upregulating IST1 in human MAPT transgenic mice attenuated autophagy deficit with reduced MAPT aggregation and ameliorated synaptic plasticity and cognitive functions, while downregulating IST1 per se induced autophagy deficit with impaired synapse and cognitive function in naïve mice. IST1 can facilitate association of CHMP2B (charged multivesicular body protein 2B) and CHMP4B/SNF7-2 to form ESCRT-III complex, while lack of IST1 impeded the complex formation. Finally, we demonstrate that MAPT accumulation suppresses IST1 transcription with the mechanisms involving the ANP32A-regulated mask of histone acetylation. Our findings suggest that the AD-like MAPT accumulation can repress autophagosome-lysosome fusion by deregulating ANP32A-INHAT-IST1-ESCRT-III pathway, which also reveals a vicious cycle of MAPT accumulation and autophagy deficit in the chronic course of AD neurodegeneration.Abbreviations: AAV: adeno-associated virus; Aβ: β-amyloid; aCSF: artificial cerebrospinal fluid; AD: Alzheimer disease; ANP32A: acidic nuclear phosphoprotein 32 family member A; ATG: autophagy related; AVs: autophagic vacuoles; CEBPB: CCAAT enhancer binding protein beta; CHMP: charged multivesicular body protein; DMEM: Dulbecco’s modified eagle’s medium; EBSS: Earle’s balanced salt solution; EGFR: epidermal growth factor receptor; ESCRT: endosomal sorting complex required for transport; fEPSPs: field excitatory postsynaptic potentials; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; GSK3B: glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta; HAT: histone acetyl transferase; HDAC: histone deacetylase; INHAT: inhibitor of histone acetyl transferase; IST1: IST1 factor associated with ESCRT-III; LAMP2: lysosomal associated membrane protein 2; LTP: long-term potentiation; MAP1LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; MAPT/tau: microtubule associated protein tau; MVB: multivesicular bodies; MWM: Morris water maze; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline solution; RAB7: member RAS oncogene family; SNAREs: soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1
Life cycle expression of inbreeding depression in Eucalyptus regnans and inter-generational stability of its mixed mating system.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Many plants exhibit a mixed mating system. Published models suggest that this might be an evolutionarily stable rather than a transitional state despite the presence of inbreeding depression, but there is little empirical evidence. Through field experimentation, we studied the role of inbreeding depression in eliminating inbred progeny from the reproductive cohort of the forest tree Eucalyptus regnans, and demonstrate a stable mixed primary mating system over two successive generations. METHODS Two field experiments were conducted using seed from natural populations. We sowed open-pollinated seeds to simulate a natural regeneration event and determined isozyme genotypes of dominant and suppressed individuals over 10 years. We also planted a mixture of open-pollinated, outcross and selfed families with common maternal parentage; monitored survival of cross types over 29 years; and determined the percentage of outcrosses in open-pollinated seed from a sample of reproductively mature trees using microsatellite analysis. KEY RESULTS Both experiments demonstrated progressive competitive elimination of inbred plants. By 29 years, the reproductive cohort in the planted experiment consisted only of outcrosses which produced seed which averaged 66 % outcrosses, similar to the estimate for the parental natural population (74 %). CONCLUSIONS Selective elimination of inbred genotypes during the intense intra-specific competition characteristic of the pre-reproductive phase of the life cycle of E. regnans results in a fully outcrossed reproductive population, in which self-fertility is comparable with that of its parental generation. The mixed mating system may be viewed as an unavoidable consequence of the species' reproductive ecology, which includes the demonstrated effects of inbreeding depression, rather than a strategy which is actively favoured by natural selection.