Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DolphinAttack: Inaudible Voice Commands

Speech recognition (SR) systems such as Siri or Google Now have become an increasingly popular human-computer interaction method, and have turned various systems into voice controllable systems (VCS). Prior work on attacking VCS shows that the hidden voice commands that are incomprehensible to people can control the systems. Hidden voice commands, though "hidden", are nonetheless audible. In this work, we design a totally inaudible attack, DolphinAttack, that modulates voice commands on ultrasonic carriers (e.g., f > 20 kHz) to achieve inaudibility. By leveraging the nonlinearity of the microphone circuits, the modulated low-frequency audio commands can be successfully demodulated, recovered, and more importantly interpreted by the speech recognition systems. We validated DolphinAttack on popular speech recognition systems, including Siri, Google Now, Samsung S Voice, Huawei HiVoice, Cortana and Alexa. By injecting a sequence of inaudible voice commands, we show a few proof-of-concept attacks, which include activating Siri to initiate a FaceTime call on iPhone, activating Google Now to switch the phone to the airplane mode, and even manipulating the navigation system in an Audi automobile. We propose hardware and software defense solutions, and suggest to re-design voice controllable systems to be resilient to inaudible voice command attacks.
Insulin resistance and necroinflammation drives ductular reaction and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in chronic hepatitis C

Objective To study the mechanism(s) linking insulin resistance (IR) to hepatic fibrosis and the role of the epithelial component in tissue repair and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Design Prospective observational study. Setting Tertiary care academic centre. Patients 78 consecutive patients with CHC. Main outcome measures IR, calculated by the oral glucose insulin sensitivity during oral glucose tolerance test; necroinflammatory activity and fibrosis, defined according to Ishak's score; steatosis, graded as 0 (<5% of hepatocytes), 1 (5–33%), 2 (33–66%) and 3 (>66%). To evaluate the role of the epithelial component in tissue repair and fibrosis, the expansion of the ductular reaction (DR) was calculated by keratin-7 (CK7) morphometry. Nuclear expression of Snail, downregulation of E-cadherin and expression of fibroblast specific protein-1 (FSP1) and vimentin by CK7-positive cells were used as markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in DR elements. Results IR, the degree of necroinflammation and expansion of the DR (stratified as reactive ductular cells (RDCs), hepatic progenitor cells and intermediate hepatobiliary cells according to morphological criteria) were all associated with the stage of fibrosis. Nuclear Snail expression, E-cadherin downregulation and vimentin upregulation were observed in RDCs. By dual immunofluorescence for CK7 and FSP1, the number of RDCs undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition progressively increased together with the necroinflammatory score. By multivariate analysis, total inflammation and insulin resistance were the only factors significantly predicting the presence of advanced fibrosis (Ishak score ≥3) and the expansion of RDCs. Conclusion This study indicates that IR is associated with the degree of necroinflammatory injury in CHC and contributes to hepatic fibrosis by stimulating the expansion of RDCs that express epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers.
differentiation and cell cycle arrest in U-937 monoblasts induced − Phosphorylation-deficient Stat 1 inhibits retinoic acid

http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary. org/content/96/8/2870.full. html Updated information and services can be found at: (1930 articles) Signal Transduction  (4217 articles) Neoplasia  Articles on similar topics can be found in the following Blood collections http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary. org/site/misc/rights.xhtml#repub_requests Information about reproducing this article in parts or in its entirety may be found online at: http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary. org/site/misc/rights.xhtml#reprints Information about ordering reprints may be found online at: http://bloodjournal.hematologylibrary. org/site/subscriptions/index.xhtml Information about subscriptions and ASH membership may be found online at:
Combinatorial Model Categories Have Presentations

Abstract We show that every combinatorial model category is Quillen equivalent to a localization of a diagram category (where “diagram category” means diagrams of simplicial sets). This says that every combinatorial model category can be built from a category of “generators” and a set of “relations. ”
Impact of telephonic psycho-social support on adherence to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) after rape

Abstract South Africa has one of the highest rates of both rape and HIV infections. Of great concern is the possibility of HIV transmission during the assault, but adherence to post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) has been varied and low. We developed a telephonic psycho-social support, leaflet and adherence diary intervention for rape victims and tested its impact on adherence to PEP. A randomised control trial was conducted in the Western and Eastern Cape and 279 rape survivors were enrolled in two arms. The intervention involved the providing of an information leaflet including an adherence diary and follow-up support through telephone calls by a counsellor during the 28 days of taking the PEP. The controls received the leaflet. Follow-up interviews and tablet checks were done with 253 participants to assess adherence. The primary outcome was completion of 28 days of PEP with no more than three missed doses (94% adherence). There was more adherence in the intervention arm (38.2% vs. 31.9%), but the estimated intervention effect of 6.5% (95% CI: −4.6 to 17.6%) was not statistically significant, p=0.13. The intervention was associated with the reading of the pamphlet (p=0.07) and an increased use of the diary (p=0.01), but did not reduce depressive psychopathology. Overall adherence was greater amongst those who read the leaflet and used the medication diary. The study showed that the intervention was not effective in significantly improving adherence and adherence levels were low in both study arms. Further research to understand reasons for non-adherence is needed before further interventions are developed.
Extended Reconstruction of Global Sea Surface Temperatures Based on COADS Data (1854–1997)

A monthly extended reconstruction of global SST (ERSST) is produced based on Comprehensive Ocean‐ Atmosphere Data Set (COADS) release 2 observations from the 1854‐1997 period. Improvements come from the use of updated COADS observations with new quality control procedures and from improved reconstruction methods. In addition error estimates are computed, which include uncertainty from both sampling and analysis errors. Using this method, little global variance can be reconstructed before the 1880s because data are too sparse to resolve enough modes for that period. Error estimates indicate that except in the North Atlantic ERSST is of limited value before 1880, when the uncertainty of the near-global average is almost as large as the signal. In most regions, the uncertainty decreases through most of the period and is smallest after 1950. The large-scale variations of ERSST are broadly consistent with those associated with the Hadley Centre Global Sea Ice and Sea Surface Temperature (HadISST) reconstruction produced by the Met Office. There are differences due to both the use of different historical bias corrections as well as different data and analysis procedures, but these differences do not change the overall character of the SST variations. Procedures used here produce a smoother analysis compared to HadISST. The smoother ERSST has the advantage of filtering out more noise at the possible cost of filtering out some real variations when sampling is sparse. A rotated EOF analysis of the ERSST anomalies shows that the dominant modes of variation include ENSO and modes associated with trends. Projection of the HadISST data onto the rotated eigenvectors produces time series similar to those for ERSST, indicating that the dominant modes of variation are consistent in both.
An in vitro evaluation of human DNA topoisomerase I inhibition by Peganum harmala L. seeds extract and its beta-carboline alkaloids.

PURPOSE Peganum harmala L. (Zygophyllaceae) seeds extract is one of the main components of an ethnobotanical preparation used in the treatment of neoplasms in Iran. Cytotoxic effects of P. harmala extract on cancerous cell-lines have been reported before. beta-carbolines like harmaline and harmine are the major alkaloids present in the seeds of the P. harmala. Considering reports concerning DNA topoisomerase inhibition by other beta-carbolines like harmane, we have used DNA relaxation assays to investigate topoisomerase I inhibitory activity of P. harmala seeds extract and its beta-carboline alkaloids to further inspecting the mechanism of its cytotoxic activity. METHODS Harmine and harmaline contents of the extract were determined using an HPTLC method. DNA topoisomerase I enzyme needed for investigating inhibitory effect of the compounds using DNA relaxation assay, was partially purified from the human placenta. DNA relaxation assay is based on the conversion of a supercoiled plasmid substrate to its relaxed form by the catalytic activity of the enzyme. The supercoiled substrate and its relaxed product can be easily distinguished using agarose gel electrophoresis, since the relaxed topological isomers of DNA migrate more slowly than supercoiled species. RESULTS Using HPTLC method, it was found that each gram of dried extract contained 55.5 and 79.0 mg of harmine and harmaline respectively. In the DNA relaxation assay, order of potency was harmine > harmane > harmaline > extract. The most active compound was harmine with IC50 value of 13.5 +/- 1.7 microg/ml. CONCLUSIONS Our in vitro findings demonstrate that P. harmala seeds extract do inhibit human DNA topoisomerase I and based on the results of HPTLC analysis, it appears that the biological activity of the extract can be explained by its beta-carboline content.
Measurement of the Combined Heat and Water-Vapour Flow through Clothing under Transient Conditions

Abstract : A sweating hot plate for the study of combined heat and water-vapour flow through clothing under Transient conditions is described. The results are in good agreement with the mathematical model reported in a previous paper for several model clothing systems. The heat loss through wool clothing was found to be smaller than that through similar polyester clothing during periods of sweating and larger during subsequent periods of drying, because of the effects of absorption of water vapour by hygroscopic materials. A comparison was made of the heat and vapour transmission of the clothing systems by incorporating a vapour-impermeable fabric or the waterproof but vapour-permeable fabric Gore-Tex. Liquid water was observed to condence on the inner surface of both fabrics during periods of sweating but the Gore-Tex dried within a few minutes of the end of the sweating period. Gore-Tex was found to be vapour permeable even at temperatures below 0 degrees C when frost was forming on its inner surface.
In Situ Observation of Domain Wall Pinning in Sm(Co,Fe,Cu,Zr)z Magnet by Lorentz Microscopy

The microstructure and magnetic domain-wall motion of a sintered Sm(Co,Fe,Cu,Zr)z permanent magnet with different Cu and Fe contents was investigated by Lorentz transmission electron microscopy. The domain-wall motion under different magnetic fields indicates that most domain walls are strongly attracted by the SmCo5 boundary phases, but some of them are repulsed to the Sm2Co17 cell phase. Differences in Cu and Fe distribution at the SmCo5 cell boundary phase and the SmCo5/Sm2Co17 interface are considered to result in domain-wall behavior, and a larger Cu and a smaller Fe content in the sample make the attractive pinning force stronger and, therefore, coercivity is higher.
Bending of Rectangular Plates With Large Deflections

Abstract : Von Karman's equations for thin plates with large deflections are solved for the special cases of rectangular plates having ratios of length to width of 1.5 and 2 and loaded by uniform normal pressure. The boundary conditions are such as to approximate panels with riveted edges under normal pressure greater than that of the surrounding panels. Center deflections, membrane stresses, and extreme-fiber bending stresses are given as functions of the pressure for center deflections up to twice the thickness of the plate. For small deflections the results are consistent with those given by Timoshenko.
Inhibition of digestive enzyme activities by copper in the guts of various marine benthic invertebrates

Digestive systems of deposit and suspension feeders can be exposed to high concentrations of copper (Cu) by ingestion of contaminated sediments. We assessed a potential impact of this Cu exposure on digestive enzyme activities in a wide range of benthic organisms by monitoring enzyme activities in their gut fluids during in vitro titrations with dissolved Cu, which mimics Cu solubilization from sediments. Increasing Cu inhibited digestive protease activities at threshold values, which varied widely among organisms, from 8 μM for an echinoderm to 0.4 M for an echiuran. More Cu was required to inhibit proteases in guts containing higher amino acid concentrations because strong Cu‐binding sites on amino acids prevent Cu interaction with the enzymatically active sites. Threshold Cu concentrations were similar for proteases, esterases, lipases, and α‐ and β‐glucosidases, suggesting the same inhibition mechanism. Copper was less effective at inhibiting enzymes at lower pH, suggesting that protons can compete with Cu ion for binding to enzymatically active sites or that enzyme conformation is less vulnerable to Cu inhibition at lower pH. These results lead to the counterintuitive conclusion that deposit feeders with low enzyme activity, low amino acid concentration, and high pH values are most vulnerable to harm from sedimentary Cu by this mechanism, although they solubilize less sedimentary Cu than their counterparts with high enzyme activity, high amino acid concentrations, and low gut pH. In general, digestive systems of echinoderms may therefore be more susceptible to Cu contamination than those of polychaetes, with various other phyla showing intermediate susceptibilities. If threshold Cu values are converted to solid‐phase sedimentary Cu concentrations, the thresholds are at least consistent with Cu loadings that have been observed to lead to biological impacts in the field.
Development of an Iron-Oxide Coated Ceramic Filter for Removal of As(III) and As(V) in Developing Nations

Over 4,000 children die each day due to diarrheal diseases which are often related to drinking unsafe water, and are often preventable with proper water treatment. Many regions of the world also suffer for high levels of arsenic due to natural and/or anthropogenic sources leading to many negative human health effects caused by chronic arsenic poisoning. The Iron-Oxide Coated Ceramic Filter (IOCCF) has been developed as a new point-of-use (POU) technology using conventional ceramic filters coated with a ferric-iron coating to achieve simultaneous arsenic (III) and (V) removal along with filtrative disinfection. Experiments were conducted on ceramic micro-columns prepared to have the exact thickness and properties for a full-scale ceramic filter. The IOCCF was shown to be capable of removing arsenic for over 365 effective filter uses to less than 10 μg/L (the WHO and EPA guideline). As(V) was sorbed more effectively at lower pH values while sorption of As(III) was not as sensitive to pH. However, there was not a large difference in As(V) or As(III) removal performance over a pH range of 6 to 9. Filtration of lake water containing NOM reduced performance of As(III) and As(V) removal and more research is needed on the effects of competitive adsorbates. As(III) and As(V) remain strongly adsorbed
The Effect of Salt on the Complex Coacervation of Vinyl Polyelectrolytes

Complex coacervation is an electrostatically-driven phase separation phenomenon that is utilized in a wide range of everyday applications and is of great interest for the creation of self-assembled materials. Here, we utilized turbidity to characterize the effect of salt type on coacervate formation using two vinyl polyelectrolytes, poly(acrylic acid sodium salt) (pAA) and poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (pAH), as simple models for industrial and biological coacervates. We confirmed the dominant role of salt valence on the extent of coacervate formation, while demonstrating the presence of significant secondary effects, which can be described by Hofmeister-like behavior. These results revealed the importance of ion-specific interactions, which are crucial for the informed design of coacervate-based materials for use in complex ionic environments, and can enable more detailed theoretical investigations on the role of subtle electrostatic and thermodynamic effects in complex coacervation.
Influence of Pollution Concentration on Bioremediation of Petroleum-Contaminated Soil

Restoration of petroleum-contaminated soil is one of the most important issues of environment protection all over the world. In order to study the influence of pollution concentration on biodegradation, a specific exogenous microbe, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, was employed for bioremediation of soil contaminated by different concentrations of petroleum. After 60d of treatment, the degradation rate of three concentration levels, low, medium and high concentrations, were 60%, 70% and 72% respectively. Through kinetic analysis, the degradation rate of medium and high concentrations was significantly higher than that of low petroleum concentration. And the higher the concentration is, the better the degradation is. Both the experimental and theoretical results show that the microbial activity and biodegradation rate is related to petroleum concentration, which provides the data support for the remediation of the petroleum-contaminated soil.
Rho kinase activity controls directional cell movements during primitive streak formation in the rabbit embryo

During animal gastrulation, the specification of the embryonic axes is accompanied by epithelio-mesenchymal transition (EMT), the first major change in cell shape after fertilization. EMT takes place in disparate topographical arrangements, such as the circular blastopore of amphibians, the straight primitive streak of birds and mammals or in intermediate gastrulation forms of other amniotes such as reptiles. Planar cell movements are prime candidates to arrange specific modes of gastrulation but there is no consensus view on their role in different vertebrate classes. Here, we test the impact of interfering with Rho kinase-mediated cell movements on gastrulation topography in blastocysts of the rabbit, which has a flat embryonic disc typical for most mammals. Time-lapse video microscopy, electron microscopy, gene expression and morphometric analyses of the effect of inhibiting ROCK activity showed – besides normal specification of the organizer region – a dose-dependent disruption of primitive streak formation; this disruption resulted in circular, arc-shaped or intermediate forms, reminiscent of those found in amphibians, fishes and reptiles. Our results reveal a crucial role of ROCK-controlled directional cell movements during rabbit primitive streak formation and highlight the possibility that temporal and spatial modulation of cell movements were instrumental for the evolution of gastrulation forms. Summary: ROCK regulates cell motility, polarisation, intercalation and division in gastrulating rabbit embryos, revealing a role for Wnt-PCP signalling in primitive streak formation.
European Conference on Information Systems ( ECIS ) 2007 IT Investment Evaluation as a Socio-Political Process : Determinants to Managerial Adoption and Use

Researchers have long recognized that IT investment evaluation is a complex socio-technical process. Some scholars even consider it as a socio-political process based on the argument that evaluations are conducted from the vantage points of the stakeholders. While anecdotal evidences of these arguments are plenty, empirical support based on large samples and rigorous methodologies are rare in the current IT evaluation literature. In this study we present the results of a structural equation analysis of a sociopolitical model of using survey data collected from 312 Swedish companies. Our results show that organizational power and political factors play a significant role in forming the managers’ intention to conduct formal IT investment evaluation, which in turn predicts the actual use of the formal evaluation methods and frameworks. While perceived usefulness still significantly influences intention, as previously reported, the power and political factors are shown to influence the action directly with or without the mediation of intention, supporting the strong influence of organizational politics in the IT investment evaluation process.
Comparison of Recording Positions of Physical Activity in Patients with Severe COPD Undergoing LTOT

Abstract Background: Accelerometry is increasingly used to assess physical activity (PA) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It is not known how the relationship of PA to clinical results depends on the position of the PA sensor. Methods: We assessed the effect of monitor position by measuring lower extremity (ankle), upper extremity (wrist) and total body movement (hip) in 52 patients with severe COPD (mean [± SD] age, 62 ± 10 years; FEV1, 38 ± 12% predicted) undergoing long-term oxygen therapy with and without walkers during a pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) program. Sensors were worn 8.5 ± 3.1 days and data was compared to the BODE score and the 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) assessed at the beginning and end of the PR. Results: Mean ankle PA was moderately related to the 6MWD, irrespective of patients being equipped with a walker or not (p < 0.05). Mean PA values were considerably lower in COPD patients with walker compared to patients without for all sensor positions. No significant association was observed between mean hip PA data and 6MWD; however, hip and ankle PA data were moderately related in walker-free and strongly related in walker patients (p < 0.01). In a multivariate regression model only ankle activity was significantly associated with the BODE score (p < 0.01). Conclusion: The sensor position had a significant impact on the association between PA recordings and the 6MWD in very severe COPD. In our setting, ankle measurement seemed to best reflect the clinical state of patients.
Implementation of the ThinPrep® imaging system in a high‐volume metropolitan laboratory

The Papanicolaou test has proven to be the most effective cancer screening test ever developed. However, with a declining number of skilled cytotechnologists, there is an increased need for computer assistance in cervical cancer screening. The ThinPrep® Imaging System (Cytyc Corporation, Marlborough, MA) is a unique system that combines computer imaging technology and human interpretive expertise in the review of ThinPrep Pap test slides. The purpose of this study is to report on the introduction and validation of this technology and present data related to the performance and productivity in our laboratory.