Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Self-organizing Neural Networks For Clustering of Gene Expression Data

Clustering of gene expression patterns is of great value for the understanding of the various molecular biological processes. While a number of algorithms have been applied to gene clustering, there is relatively few studies on the application of neural networks to this task. In addition, few studies are done on the quantitative evaluation of the gene clustering results. Through cross-comparison using a set of cluster distribution based quantitative evaluation measures, this paper studies the characteristics of several self-organizing neural networks, namely SOM, ART 2A, and ART-C 2A, for clustering of gene expressions. Our comparative studies identify ART 2A and ART-C 2A for high efficient gene clustering. In addition, the capability of ART-C 2A in identifying gene functional groupings is inspected through case study on the rat CNS data set.
A biogeography-based optimisation algorithm for a realistic no-wait hybrid flow shop with unrelated parallel machines to minimise mean tardiness

This paper explores a no-wait hybrid flow shop scheduling problem (NWHFSSP) with realistic assumptions, including unrelated parallel machines at each stage, machine eligibility, sequence-dependent set-up times and different ready times, in order to minimise the mean tardiness. The largest position value rule is proposed to transmute continuous vectors of each solution into job permutations. Also, a novel biogeography-based optimisation (BBO) algorithm is developed to solve the aforementioned problem. To evaluate the effect of various parameters on the performance of the proposed BBO algorithm, response surface methodology (RSM) is employed. Production scenarios for small-scale and large-scale problems are created and tested for the validation purposes. Computational experiment results indicate that the proposed BBO outperforms all of the tested algorithms in terms of four measures, namely, mean relative percentage deviation (RPD), standard deviation of RPD, best RPD and worst RPD. It is shown that BBO produces the best solutions among the tested algorithms in terms of not only the four RPD measures but also computation time.
Comparing the Relative Efficacy of Narrative vs Nonnarrative Health Messages in Reducing Health Disparities Using a Randomized Trial.

OBJECTIVES We compared the relative efficacy of a fictional narrative film to a more traditional nonnarrative film in conveying the same health information. METHODS We used a random digit dial procedure to survey the cervical cancer-related knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of non-Hispanic White, Mexican American, and African American women, aged 25 to 45 years, living in Los Angeles, California, from 2011 to 2012. Participants (n = 704) were randomly assigned to view either a narrative or nonnarrative film containing the same information about how cervical cancer could be prevented or detected, and they were re-contacted 2 weeks and 6 months later. RESULTS At 2 weeks, both films produced a significant increase in cervical cancer-related knowledge and attitudes, but these effects were significantly higher for the narrative film. At 6 months, viewers of both films retained greater than baseline knowledge and more positive attitudes toward Papanicolaou (Pap) tests, but women who saw the narrative were significantly more likely to have had or scheduled a Pap test. The narrative was particularly effective for Mexican American women, eliminating cervical cancer screening disparities found at baseline. CONCLUSIONS Narratives might prove to be a useful tool for reducing health disparities.
Policy-based Resource Allocation in Hierarchical Virtual Organizations for Global Grids

In previous years, many studies have been conducted on grid computing, in which users and resource providers organize various virtual organizations (VOs) to share resources and services. A VO organizes other sub-VOs for the purpose of achieving the VO goal, which forms the hierarchical VO environment. In this paper, we model and formalize the resource allocation problem in hierarchical VOs. Resource providers and VOs agree upon the VO resource sharing policy, such as resource sharing amount and resource usage cost for VOs. We provide the resource allocation scheme of a VO resource broker to minimize the total cost in order to meet a user's job deadline. In addition, we deal with several cost adjustment methods in resource providers to utilize their resources efficiently in hierarchical VOs
Cancer incidence and cancer mortality in relation to serum cholesterol.

We studied cancer incidence and mortality from cancer and coronary heart disease in relation to serum cholesterol levels in 92,710 individuals followed-up in the nationwide Swedish Cancer Register and the Swedish Cause of Death Register for 18-20 years. According to Cox's proportional hazard model, total cancer incidence and total cancer mortality were negatively correlated to serum cholesterol level (P less than .001). The negative correlations were most pronounced during the first years of follow-up. Cancer mortality data showed a stronger negative association to cholesterol than did incidence data during the first 10 years of follow-up (P less than .05). Mortality from coronary heart disease was positively correlated to serum cholesterol (P less than .001) during the entire follow-up. In contrast to most studies that were based on mortality data, our results of the comparison of incidence and mortality data of the same cohort are in agreement with those of a cholesterol-lowering effect of a preclinical cancer. Efforts by investigators and clinicians to lower serum cholesterol to prevent cardiovascular disease are, according to the present findings, not likely to increase cancer mortality risks but would extend life, irrespective of cause of death.
The Effect of Various Modes of Occupational Stress, Job Satisfaction, Intention to Leave and Absentism Companies Commission of Malaysia

This article highlights some of the major research findings regarding the causes of occupational stress within the organization and the implication on job satisfaction and intention to leave and absenteeism. The researcher chooses 100 employees in Companies Commission of Malaysia, a statutory body which regulated company and businesses. Pearson Product Moment Correlation to find out correlations and Multiple Linear Regression Technique were used to find out effect between variables. The finding indicates that factor such as external environment contribute to the occupational stress. This external factor is beyond the control of the organization. The occupational stress do not have direct effect on intention to leave and absenteeism but have direct negative effect on job satisfaction. Job satisfaction have negative effect on intention to leave and absenteeism.
Circumventing Y. pestis Virulence by Early Recruitment of Neutrophils to the Lungs during Pneumonic Plague

Pneumonic plague is a fatal disease caused by Yersinia pestis that is associated with a delayed immune response in the lungs. Because neutrophils are the first immune cells recruited to sites of infection, we investigated the mechanisms responsible for their delayed homing to the lung. During the first 24 hr after pulmonary infection with a fully virulent Y. pestis strain, no significant changes were observed in the lungs in the levels of neutrophils infiltrate, expression of adhesion molecules, or the expression of the major neutrophil chemoattractants keratinocyte cell-derived chemokine (KC), macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2) and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). In contrast, early induction of chemokines, rapid neutrophil infiltration and a reduced bacterial burden were observed in the lungs of mice infected with an avirulent Y. pestis strain. In vitro infection of lung-derived cell-lines with a YopJ mutant revealed the involvement of YopJ in the inhibition of chemoattractants expression. However, the recruitment of neutrophils to the lungs of mice infected with the mutant was still delayed and associated with rapid bacterial propagation and mortality. Interestingly, whereas KC, MIP-2 and G-CSF mRNA levels in the lungs were up-regulated early after infection with the mutant, their protein levels remained constant, suggesting that Y. pestis may employ additional mechanisms to suppress early chemoattractants induction in the lung. It therefore seems that prevention of the early influx of neutrophils to the lungs is of major importance for Y. pestis virulence. Indeed, pulmonary instillation of KC and MIP-2 to G-CSF-treated mice infected with Y. pestis led to rapid homing of neutrophils to the lung followed by a reduction in bacterial counts at 24 hr post-infection and improved survival rates. These observations shed new light on the virulence mechanisms of Y. pestis during pneumonic plague, and have implications for the development of novel therapies against this pathogen.
THE TREATMENT OF ANTHRAX

Add to this someexperimentalfindings. Gastric andduodenalulcerationcanbe producedin animals in severalways, of which the work of Rosenowon focal sepsisis a good example. But perhapstoo muchhasbeenmadeof the local factors. As a nidus for the processof infection ischeemic or infarcted areas have been suggested; but how are these produced? Cushing and his coworkers have brought forth evidencethat erosionsof the stomach can be producedby pilocarpine and pituitrin, but much more readily when the drugs are introduced into the ventricles of the brain than by the subcutaneousroute. Beattiehascausedincreasedperistalsis and secretion arid even erosions near the lesser curvature by stimulation' of the tuberal region. It is interestingthat pltuitrln hasa similar action to adrenaline when given:subcutaneously, causing a blanching of the gastric mucosa and arrest of movement,whereasits introduction into' the ventricular system activatesmovementof the stomach and brings forth a secretion containing increasedamountof acid and even blood. It would seem logical to admit the probability of the following sequenceof events:stimulation by psychic or other influences of the nuclei in the tuberal region, releaseof the vagus.from sympathetic antagonism,spasm of the stomach muscle, isehsemiaof the small terminal vessels,infarction, and finally, digestionby the hyperacidgastric juice. This hypothesisdoes not in any way brush aside such important factors as sepsis. But it does give some explanation of the mechanismby which the ulceration begins and how the local vascular disturbancemay arise. Moreover, it indicateswhy the peptic ulcer should so often be inveterate. Some clear idea of this conceptmust surely be of interest to all, from the neuro-anatomist whose chosenplayground is thosenuclei and fibre tracts by so many regarded, though wrongly, as of little practical importance,to the practitioner who insists on the need ofrest and freedom from care for the patient whose peptic ulcer proves resistantto treatment.
Analysis of the oxidative damage of DNA, RNA, and their metabolites induced by hyperglycemia and related nephropathy in Sprague Dawley rats

Abstract We used a sensitive and accurate method based on isotope dilution high-performance liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (ID-LC-MS/MS) to determine the levels of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dGsn) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosin (8-oxo-Gsn) in various tissue specimens, plasma, and urine of hyperglycemic Sprague Dawley rats induced by streptozotocin (STZ). The oxidative DNA and RNA damages were observed in various organs and the amounts of 8-oxo-dGsn and 8-oxo-Gsn derived from DNA and RNA were increased with hyperglycemic status. In contrast to the results of the nucleic acid samples derived from tissues, the levels of 8-oxo-Gsn in urine and plasma were significantly higher compared with that of 8-oxo-dGsn, which most likely reflected the RNA damage that occurs more frequently compared with DNA damage. For the oxidative stress induced by hyperglycemia, 8-oxo-Gsn in urine may be a sensitive biomarker on the basis of the results in urine, plasma, and tissues. In addition, high levels of urinary 8-oxo-Gsn were observed before diabetic microvascular complications. Based on that the 8-oxo-dGsn was associated with diabetic nephropathy and RNA was more vulnerable to oxidative stress compared with DNA. We also propose that 8-oxo-Gsn is correlated with diabetic nephropathy and that 8-oxo-Gsn in urine could be a useful and sensitive marker of diabetic nephropathy.
Multiple sclerosis and chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency: a critical review

Chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) was recently proposed as a contributing factor in the pathology of multiple sclerosis. This concept has gained remarkable attention, partly because endovascular neurointervention has been suggested as a treatment strategy. This review summarizes available evidence and provides a critical analysis of the published data. Currently, there is inconclusive evidence to support CCSVI as an etiological factor in patients with multiple sclerosis. Endovascular procedures should not be undertaken outside of controlled clinical trials.
Epigallocatechin Gallate Induces Upregulation of the Two-Component VraSR System by Evoking a Cell Wall Stress Response in Staphylococcus aureus

ABSTRACT We previously found that a short exposure of Staphylococcus aureus to subinhibitory (SI) doses of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) results in increased cell wall thickness, adaptation, and enhanced tolerance to cell-wall-targeted antibiotics. In this study, the response to EGCG of sigB and vraSR transcription factor mutants was characterized. We show that in contrast to the results observed for wild-type (WT) strains, an S. aureus 315 vraSR null mutant exposed to SI doses of EGCG did not exhibit increased tolerance to EGCG and oxacillin. A diminished increase in tolerance to ampicillin (from 16-fold to 4-fold) and no change in the magnitude of resistance to vancomycin were observed. Preexposure to EGCG enhanced the tolerance of wild-type and sigB null mutant cells to lysostaphin, but this enhancement was much weaker in the vraSR null mutant. Marked upregulation (about 60-fold) of vraR and upregulation of the peptidoglycan biosynthesis-associated genes murA, murF, and pbp2 (2-, 5-, and 6-fold, respectively) in response to SI doses of EGCG were determined by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR). EGCG also induced the promoter of sas016 (encoding a cell wall stress protein of unknown function which is not induced in vraSR null mutants) in a concentration-dependent manner, showing kinetics comparable to those of cell-wall-targeting antibiotics. Taken together, our results suggest that the two-component VraSR system is involved in modulating the cell response to SI doses of EGCG.
Multicast-based loss inference with missing data

Network tomography using multicast probes enables inference of loss characteristics of internal network links from reports of end-to-end loss seen at multicast receivers. We develop estimators for internal loss rates when reports are not available on all probes or from all receivers. This problem is motivated by the use of unreliable transport protocols, such as reliable transport protocol, to transmit loss reports to a collector for inference. We use a maximum-likelihood (ML) approach in which we apply the expectation maximization (EM) algorithm to provide an approximating solution to the the ML estimator for the incomplete data problem. We present a concrete realization of the algorithm that can be applied to measured data. For classes of models, we establish identifiability of the probe and report loss parameters, and convergence of the EM sequence to the maximum-likelihood estimator (MLE). Numerical results suggest that these properties hold more generally. We derive convergence rates for the EM iterates, and the estimation error of the MLE. Finally, we evaluate the accuracy and convergence rate through extensive simulations.
Cell and molecular mechanisms of insulin-induced angiogenesis

Angiogenesis, the development of new blood vessel from pre‐existing vessels, is a key process in the formation of the granulation tissue during wound healing. The appropriate development of new blood vessels, along with their subsequent maturation and differentiation, establishes the foundation for functional wound neovasculature. We performed studies in vivo and used a variety of cellular and molecular approaches in vitro to show that insulin stimulates angiogenesis and to elucidate the signalling mechanisms by which this protein stimulates microvessel development. Mice skin injected with insulin shows longer vessels with more branches, along with increased numbers of associated α‐smooth muscle actin‐expressing cells, suggesting the appropriate differentiation and maturation of the new vessels. We also found that insulin stimulates human microvascular endothelial cell migration and tube formation, and that these effects occur independently of VEGF/VEGFR signalling, but are dependent upon the insulin receptor itself. Downstream signalling pathways involve PI3K, Akt, sterol regulatory element‐binding protein 1 (SREBP‐1) and Rac1; inhibition of these pathways results in elimination of endothelial cell migration and tube formation and significantly decreases the development of microvessels. Our findings strongly suggest that insulin is a good candidate for the treatment of ischaemic wounds and other conditions in which blood vessel development is impaired.
ULTRA STEEP SPECTRUM RADIO SOURCES IN THE LOCKMAN HOLE: SERVS IDENTIFICATIONS AND REDSHIFT DISTRIBUTION AT THE FAINTEST RADIO FLUXES

Ultra steep spectrum (USS) radio sources have been successfully used to select powerful radio sources at high redshifts (z ≳ 2). Typically restricted to large-sky surveys and relatively bright radio flux densities, it has gradually become possible to extend the USS search to sub-mJy levels, thanks to the recent appearance of sensitive low-frequency radio facilities. Here a first detailed analysis of the nature of the faintest USS sources is presented. By using Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope and Very Large Array radio observations of the Lockman Hole at 610 MHz and 1.4 GHz, a sample of 58 USS sources, with 610 MHz integrated fluxes above 100 μJy, is assembled. Deep infrared data at 3.6 and 4.5 μm from the Spitzer Extragalactic Representative Volume Survey (SERVS) are used to reliably identify counterparts for 48 (83%) of these sources, showing an average total magnitude of [3.6]AB = 19.8 mag. Spectroscopic redshifts for 14 USS sources, together with photometric redshift estimates, improved by the use of the deep SERVS data, for a further 19 objects, show redshifts ranging from z = 0.1 to z = 2.8, peaking at z ∼ 0.6 and tailing off at high redshifts. The remaining 25 USS sources, with no redshift estimate, include the faintest [3.6] magnitudes, with 10 sources undetected at 3.6 and 4.5 μm (typically [3.6] ≳ 22–23 mag from local measurements), which suggests the likely existence of higher redshifts among the sub-mJy USS population. The comparison with the Square Kilometre Array Design Studies Simulated Skies models indicates that Fanaroff–Riley type I radio sources and radio-quiet active galactic nuclei may constitute the bulk of the faintest USS population, and raises the possibility that the high efficiency of the USS technique for the selection of high-redshift sources remains even at the sub-mJy level.
School-Based Lived Experiences of Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes: A Preliminary Study

Background: Diabetes self-management is challenging for adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). School plays a crucial role in the adolescents' lives. However, evidence of inadequate quality of school-based diabetes care has been reported in the literature. Purpose: The purpose of this preliminary study was to obtain an initial understanding of school-based lived experiences of adolescents with T1DM to serve as a foundation of future research. Methods: The Heideggerian hermeneutic phenomenological approach served as the philosophical underpinning for this study. Two Taiwanese adolescents with T1DM were purposively recruited. Individual, audio-recorded, semistructured interviews were conducted. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed through hermeneutic circle. Results: Participants described their school-based lived experiences as a dynamic learning process. Four interwoven themes were discovered: (a) learning to be master of their disease, (b) learning to find ways to feel comfortable, (c) learning to not be different, and (d) learning to not let others (especially parents) worry about them. Conclusions/Implications for Practice: Diabetes care professionals, school nurses, school personnel, and parents should help strengthen resilience of the adolescents to overcome common social obstacles in schools. Creating a supportive learning environment is warranted to help incorporate diabetes management into their daily lives. Future studies should consider specific situational obstacles that the adolescents face to design effective interventions to improve school-based diabetes care.
What Signals Are You Sending? How Website Quality Influences Perceptions of Product Quality and Purchase Intentions

An electronic commerce marketing channel is fully mediated by information technology, stripping away much of a product's physical informational cues, and creating information asymmetries (i.e., limited information). These asymmetries may impede consumers' ability to effectively assess certain types of products, thus creating challenges for online sellers. Signaling theory provides a framework for understanding how extrinsic cues ᾢ signals ᾢ can be used by sellers to convey product quality information to consumers, reducing uncertainty and facilitating a purchase or exchange. This research proposes a model to investigate website quality as a potential signal of product quality and consider the moderating effects of product information asymmetries and signal credibility. Three experiments are reported that examine the efficacy of signaling theory as a basis for predicting online consumer behavior with an experience good. The results indicate that website quality influences consumers' perceptions of product quality, which subsequently affects online purchase intentions. Additionally, website quality was found to have a greater influence on perceived product quality when consumers had higher information asymmetries. Likewise, signal credibility was found to strengthen the relationship between website quality and product quality perceptions for a high quality website. Implications for future research and website design are examined.