Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Activation of adenylyl cyclase in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by adhesion and by heat

Adhesion between Chlamydomonas reinhardtii gametes generates a rapid rise in cAMP levels which stimulates mating responses and zygotic cell fusion (Pasquale and Goodenough, 1987). We show here that sexual adhesion in vivo results in a twofold stimulation of flagellar adenylyl cyclase activity when the enzyme is subsequently assayed in vitro, a stimulation that is specifically blocked by Cd2+. A twofold stimulation is also elicited by the in vitro presentation of soluble cross-linking reagents (antisera and concanavalin A). In contrast, the 10-30-fold stimulation of the flagellar cyclase by in vitro exposure to 40 degrees C, first described by Zhang et al. (1991), is insensitive to Cd2+ but sensitive to such drugs as trifluoperizine and dibucaine. The capacity for twofold stimulation is displayed by the vegetative and gametic enzymes but is lost when gametes fuse to form zygotes; in contrast, the 10-fold stimulation is displayed by the gametic and zygotic enzymes but not the vegetative enzyme. The signal-defective mutant imp-3 fails to generate the normal mating-triggered cAMP production and can be rescued by exogenous dibutyryl cAMP. It displays normal basal rates of flagellar cyclase activity and a normal twofold stimulation by sexual adhesion and by soluble cross-linkers, but it is defective in 40 degrees C activation. The gametic cell-body adenylyl cyclase is stimulated when wild-type flagella, but not imp-3 flagella, undergo adhesive interactions in vivo, and it can be directly stimulated in vitro by cAMP presentation. We propose that the two levels of flagellar cyclase stimulation reflect either sequential steps in the activation of a single cyclase enzyme, with imp-3 blocked in the second step, or else the sequential activation of two different flagellar enzymes, with imp-3 defective in the second enzyme. We further propose that the cell- body enzyme is activated by the cAMP that is generated when flagellar cyclase activity is fully stimulated.
Stress Testing the Booters: Understanding and Undermining the Business of DDoS Services

DDoS-for-hire services, also known as booters, have commoditized DDoS attacks and enabled abusive subscribers of these services to cheaply extort, harass and intimidate businesses and people by taking them offline. However, due to the underground nature of these booters, little is known about their underlying technical and business structure. In this paper, we empirically measure many facets of their technical and payment infrastructure. We also perform an analysis of leaked and scraped data from three major booters---Asylum Stresser, Lizard Stresser and VDO---which provides us with an in-depth view of their customers and victims. Finally, we conduct a large-scale payment intervention in collaboration with PayPal and evaluate its effectiveness as a deterrent to their operations. Based on our analysis, we show that these booters are responsible for hundreds of thousands of DDoS attacks and identify potentially promising methods to undermine these services by increasing their costs of operation.
An integral approach to free-formed object modeling

Presents a new approach to free-formed object modeling from multiple range images. In most conventional approaches, successive views are registered sequentially. In contrast to the sequential approaches, we propose an integral approach which reconstructs statistically optimal object models by simultaneously aggregating all data from multiple views into a weighted least-squares (WLS) formulation. The integral approach has two components. First, a global resampling algorithm constructs partial representations of the object from individual views so that correspondences can be established among different views. The global resampling algorithm is based on the spherical attribute image (SAI) previously introduced in the context of object representation and recognition. Second, a weighted least-squares algorithm integrates resampled partial representations of multiple views, using the technique of principal component analysis with missing data (PCAMD). Experiments using real range images show that our approach is robust against noise and mismatches, and generates accurate object models. <<ETX>>
Computational thinking and thinking about computing

Computational thinking will influence everyone in every field of endeavour. This vision poses a new educational challenge for our society, especially for our children. In thinking about computing, we need to be attuned to the three drivers of our field: science, technology and society. Accelerating technological advances and monumental societal demands force us to revisit the most basic scientific questions of computing.
Purinergic signaling in human pluripotent stem cells is regulated by the housekeeping gene encoding hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase

Lesch–Nyhan disease (LND) is an X-linked genetic disorder caused by mutations of the hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) purine biosynthesis gene and characterized by aberrant purine metabolism, deficient basal ganglia dopamine levels, dystonia, and severe neurobehavioral manifestations, including compulsive self-injurious behavior. Although available evidence has identified important roles for purinergic signaling in brain development, the mechanisms linking HPRT deficiency, purinergic pathways, and neural dysfunction of LND are poorly understood. In these studies aimed at characterizing purinergic signaling in HPRT deficiency, we used a lentivirus vector stably expressing an shRNA targeted to the HPRT gene to produce HPRT-deficient human CVB induced pluripotent stem cells and human HUES11 embryonic stem cells. Both CVB and HUES11 cells show >99% HPRT knockdown and demonstrate markedly decreased expression of the purinergic P2Y1 receptor mRNA. In CVB cells, P2Y1 mRNA and protein down-regulation by HPRT knockdown is refractory to activation by the P2Y1 receptor agonist ATP and shows aberrant purinergic signaling, as reflected by marked deficiency of the transcription factor pCREB and constitutive activation of the MAP kinases phospho-ERK1/2. Moreover, HPRT-knockdown CVB cells also demonstrate marked reduction of phosphorylated β-catenin. These results indicate that the housekeeping gene HPRT regulates purinergic signaling in pluripotent human stem cells, and that this regulation occurs at least partly through aberrant P2Y1-mediated expression and signaling. We propose that such mechanisms may play a role in the neuropathology of HPRT-deficiency LND and may point to potential molecular targets for modulation of this intractable neurological phenotype.
Relations between dietary sodium and potassium intakes and mortality from cardiovascular disease: the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study for Evaluation of Cancer Risks.

BACKGROUND Limited evidence is available about the relations between sodium and potassium intakes and cardiovascular disease in the general population. OBJECTIVE The objective was to investigate relations between sodium and potassium intakes and cardiovascular disease in Asian populations whose mean sodium intake is generally high. DESIGN Between 1988 and 1990, a total of 58,730 Japanese subjects (n = 23,119 men and 35,611 women) aged 40-79 y with no history of stroke, coronary heart disease, or cancer completed a lifestyle questionnaire including food intake frequency under the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study for Evaluation of Cancer Risk sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Sports and Science. RESULTS After 745,161 person-years of follow-up, we documented 986 deaths from stroke (153 subarachnoid hemorrhages, 227 intraparenchymal hemorrhages, and 510 ischemic strokes) and 424 deaths from coronary heart disease. Sodium intake was positively associated with mortality from total stroke, ischemic stroke, and total cardiovascular disease. The multivariable hazard ratio for the highest versus the lowest quintiles of sodium intake after adjustment for age, sex, and cardiovascular disease risk factors was 1.55 (95% CI: 1.21, 2.00; P for trend < 0.001) for total stroke, 2.04 (95% CI: 1.41, 2.94; P for trend < 0.001) for ischemic stroke, and 1.42 (95% CI: 1.20, 1.69; P for trend < 0.001) for total cardiovascular disease. Potassium intake was inversely associated with mortality from coronary heart disease and total cardiovascular disease. The multivariable hazard ratio for the highest versus the lowest quintiles of potassium intake was 0.65 (95% CI: 0.39, 1.06; P for trend = 0.083) for coronary heart disease and 0.73 (95% CI: 0.59, 0.92; P for trend = 0.018) for total cardiovascular disease, and these associations were more evident for women than for men. CONCLUSIONS A high sodium intake and a low potassium intake may increase the risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease.
Reweighted nuclear norm minimization of interference alignment for cognitive radio networks

A cognitive radio network allows the primary users (PU) and secondary users (SU) transmit simultaneously given that the primary user's transmission is not disrupted. The secondary users are able to transmit their signals by aligning the signal direction to the primary user's unused direction. However, the performance of SU is heavily affected by the degree of freedom (DoF) of the cognitive radio network in a static flat-fading multiple input multiple output (MIMO) interference channel. A rank constraint rank minimization (RCRM) method has been used to maximize the DoF but the optimization problem happens to be a non-convex problem thus, a tighter convex approximation will help to solve this problem. One of the most popular methods is the nuclear norm minimization method which provides a convex envelope of the approximation but discovered to be not optimal in finding the maximum achievable DoF. This paper proposes a reweighted nuclear norm minimization method in a cognitive radio network with the presence of PU and multiple SU with the interest at the SU's receiver side. The proposed method allows the PU and SU to coexist in the same frequency band and transmit simultaneously without disturbance from SU to PU while avoiding degradation of performance for SU at the same time. The weight matrix is placed at the receiver and updated iteratively according to the current environment, resulting in a tighter convex approximation and thus, enhances the performance of SU.
Evaluating speech synthesis intelligibility using Amazon Mechanical Turk

Microtask platforms such as Amazon Mechanical Turk (AMT) are increasingly used to create speech and language resources. AMT in particular allows researchers to quickly recruit a large number of fairly demographically diverse participants. In this study, we investigated whether AMT can be used for comparing the intelligibility of speech synthesis systems. We conducted two experiments in the lab and via AMT, one comparing US English diphone to US English speaker-adaptive HTS synthesis and one comparing UK English unit selection to UK English speaker-dependent HTS synthesis. While AMT word error rates were worse than lab error rates, AMT results were more sensitive to relative differences between systems. This is mainly due to the larger number of listeners. Boxplots and multilevel modelling allowed us to identify listeners who performed particularly badly, while thresholding was sufficient to eliminate rogue workers. We conclude that AMT is a viable platform for synthetic speech intelligibility comparisons.
Kriging-Based Parameter Estimation Algorithm for Metabolic Networks Combined with Single-Dimensional Optimization and Dynamic Coordinate Perturbation

The metabolic network model allows for an in-depth insight into the molecular mechanism of a particular organism. Because most parameters of the metabolic network cannot be directly measured, they must be estimated by using optimization algorithms. However, three characteristics of the metabolic network model, i.e., high nonlinearity, large amount parameters, and huge variation scopes of parameters, restrict the application of many traditional optimization algorithms. As a result, there is a growing demand to develop efficient optimization approaches to address this complex problem. In this paper, a Kriging-based algorithm aiming at parameter estimation is presented for constructing the metabolic networks. In the algorithm, a new infill sampling criterion, named expected improvement and mutual information (EI&MI), is adopted to improve the modeling accuracy by selecting multiple new sample points at each cycle, and the domain decomposition strategy based on the principal component analysis is introduced to save computing time. Meanwhile, the convergence speed is accelerated by combining a single-dimensional optimization method with the dynamic coordinate perturbation strategy when determining the new sample points. Finally, the algorithm is applied to the arachidonic acid metabolic network to estimate its parameters. The obtained results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in getting precise parameter values under a limited number of iterations.
Mouse thiopurine methyltransferase pharmacogenetics: monogenic inheritance.

Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) catalyzes the S-methylation of aromatic and heterocyclic sulfhydryl compounds such as the drug 6-mercaptopurine. In humans, TPMT activity is inherited as a monogenic trait. It would be useful if there were an animal model in which the genetic regulation of TPMT could be studied. Average TPMT activities in livers of C57BL/6J (B6) and AKR/J (AK) mice were only 17 to 29% of average activities in livers of like-sexed DBA/2J (D2) mice. Average TPMT activities in kidneys of B6 and AK mice were only 41 to 45% of average activities in kidneys of like-sexed D2 mice. Breeding experiments were performed to study the possible role of inheritance in regulating variations in TPMT activity in these mice. TPMT activities in livers and kidneys of F1 (hybrid) animals (N = 38) from D2 X B6 matings were intermediate to those in the parental strains but were closer to D2 than to B6 values, an observation that suggested partial dominance of the D2 phenotype. The results of studies of F2 (N = 107) and backcross (N = 102) animals derived from these matings were compatible with autosomal recessive inheritance of the trait of low TPMT activity in these mouse strains. Of the F2 animals, 27.1% were included in a "low" TPMT subgroup when enzyme activities in livers and kidneys were both used for phenotypic classification. TPMT activities in livers and kidneys of F1 mice (N = 40) from D2 X AK matings were also intermediate to those in the parental strains but were closer to D2 than to AK values. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Sequential logic synthesis for testability using register-transfer level descriptions

A synthesis-for-testability approach that uses a register-transfer level (RTL) specification of a sequential circuit to derive a fully testable implementation of the circuit is presented. Emphasis is placed on the development of a synthesis strategy of don t care exploitation and logic partitioning that results in a fully testable implementation of the sequential machine. Preliminary experimental results indicate that large sequential circuits (e.g., finite-state-machine controllers, data paths) with a large number of latches and gates can be synthesized to be fully nonscan testable by use of these techniques. <<ETX>>
Determinants of state property management: Moderating role of internal control system

Research aims: This study examines the effect of employee competence, organizational commitment, and information systems on the quality of state property management with the Government Internal Control System (GICS) as a moderating variable at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia.Design/Methodology/Approach: This research used data from 205 State Property Operators at Indonesia's Ministry of Law and Human Rights. Data analysis in this study employed the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method, in which hypothesis testing was carried out using the bootstrapping analysis.Research findings: The results of this study indicate that while employee competence and information systems positively affected the quality of state property management, organizational commitment did not affect the quality of state property management. Furthermore, GICS could weaken the positive effect of employee competence on the quality of state property management, and GICS could strengthen the positive effect of information systems on the quality of state property management. However, GICS failed to moderate the relationship between organizational commitment and the quality of state property management.Theoretical contribution/Originality: This research provides a conceptual framework that guides other studies in Indonesian state property management, which has rarely been examined in previous studies. Practitioner/Policy implication: This research contributes to the preparation of better work programs, procedures, and supervision within the Ministry of Law and Human Rights to create state property management that is legal, administrative, and physically orderly.
Prevalence of Undiagnosed Depression among Persons with Hypertension and Associated Risk Factors: A Cross-Sectional Study in Urban Nepal

Background Despite an increasing number of studies exploring prevalence of depression among hypertensive patients in high income countries, limited data is available from low and middle income countries, particularly Nepal. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of undiagnosed (sub clinical) depression and associated risk factors among hypertensive patients attending a tertiary health care clinic in Nepal. Methods The study was based on a cross-sectional study design, with 321 hypertensive patients attending the Out-Patient Department of a central hospital in Nepal. Blood measure was recorded via a mercury column sphygmomanometer. Depression levels were assessed using the Beck Depression Inventory-Ia (BDI) scale. Demographics and risk factors were assessed. Result The proportion of participants with undiagnosed depression was 15%. Multivariable analyses demonstrated an increase in BDI scores with increased aging. Approximately a 1 point increase in the BDI score was observed for each additional decade of aging in hypertensive patients. Additional factors associated with increased risk of depression included being female (4.28 point BDI score increase), smoking (5.61 point BDI score increase), being hypertensive with no hypertensive medication (4.46 point BDI score increase) and being illiterate (4.46 point BDI score increase). Conclusions Among persons with hypertension in outpatient settings in Nepal, demographic (age, sex, education), behavioural (smoking,) and adherence factors (anti-hypertensive medication) were associated with undiagnosed depression. Screening programs in Nepal may assist early intervention in hypertensive patients with sub clinical depression.
Acute Hypobaric Hypoxia Induced Early Phase Biochemical and Histological Changes in Susceptible and Tolerant Rat Lung Tissues

Aim: Oxidative stress during early phase of acute hypobaric hypoxia may predispose an individual susceptible to critical altitude illness while ascending rapidly to high altitudes. We assessed the biochemical parameters and examined the histological changes to check the oxidative stress status of the lung tissues of Sprague-Dawley rats, susceptible and tolerant to acute hypobaric hypoxia during early phase of exposure. Methods: A simulated acute hypobaric hypoxia of one hour at 9144 m and 24°C was given to susceptible male, normal male (moderate), tolerant male and female groups of rats. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, malondialdehdye (MDA) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) content, total catalase (CAT) activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibitory activity and glutathione peroxidase (Gpx) activity were measured using standard protocols in lung tissue samples isolated from the different groups of hypoxia stressed and normoxic rats. Histological changes were also studied by haematoxylin and eosin staining in these tissue samples. Results: Marked neutrophil infiltration, alveolar wall collapse and interstitium thickening was visible in susceptible lung tissues showing maximum ROS levels, MDA equivalents and GSSG activity comparative to other test samples. Although SOD inhibitory activity increased in susceptible and normal groups in comparison to both the tolerant groups, however, Gpx activity showed an opposite trend. Catalase activity was recorded highest in the normal rat group as compared to other groups. Conclusion : Increased neutrophil infiltration coupled with higher oxidant’s levels in susceptible rat lungs, and increased antioxidant enzyme activity in normal and tolerant rats demonstrate the differential physiological states in lung tissues, which could be diagnosed even in early phase of acute hypobaric hypoxia stress.
The Proposed 'Wine Restructuring Action Agenda' and Alternative Policy Options for the Australian Wine Industry

The Australian grape-growing and wine producing industry enjoyed meteoric growth from the early 1990s onwards, with wine sales forming an increasingly important element of both national export earnings and farm-sector income. Despite this success, a recent downward slump in industry profitability and a dampening of demand for wine has resulted in a call for government-assisted intervention, which would include a national 'vine-pull'. This paper examines the 'Wine Restructuring Action Agenda' (WRAA) proposed by a suite of industry bodies, and in particular the vine-pull policy option, in light of its predecessor, the vine-pull scheme of 1985-87. We argue that past experience suggests that both state and federal governments, and the industry itself, ought to explore the other options contained in the WRAA more fully, and indeed other emerging proposals for industry innovation and 'light touch' regulation, when addressing the long-term sustainability of the Australian wine industry.
Towards Self-Organizing Cloud Markets Fostering Intermediaries

A Cloud marketplace facilitates both buyers and sellers to trade Cloud services. Currently, alternatives to the widely used supermarket approach are gaining popularity, e.g. consumers can bid for virtual machines in Amazon E2C spot market. The scientific community goes one step ahead and envisions highly dynamic market forms e.g. by using autonomous multi-round bilateral negotiations (Bazaar-based negotiations) between consumers and providers. In this paper, we extend the consumer-provider relationships by considering service chains with additional market participants called intermediaries. We formally describe such consumer-intermediary-provider service chains on Cloud markets. Based on the formal description we introduce the first market simulation environment based on CloudSim which allows to simulate Cloud markets on which consumers, providers and intermediaries are participating.
Spectrally selective dithering for distorted speech recognition

The performance of speech recognition systems can be sig-niﬁcantly degraded if the speech spectrum is distorted. This includes situations such as the usage of an improper recording device, enhancement technique or speech coder. This paper presents a front-end compensation method called spectrally selective dithering aimed at reconstructing the spectral characteristics of nonlinearly distorted speech. The technique is designed to detect the suppressed frequency bands in the speech signal and add a weighted amount of additive noise. The detection algorithm is based on the smoothness of the excitation signal spectrum obtained through analyzing LPC ﬁltration. The gain of the added noise is estimated from the unaffected frequency bands. The practical usability of the algorithm has been studied in the task of MP3 speech recognition for very low bit-rates. The obtained results have demonstrated the advantage of us-ing the proposed technique. We achieved up to 1.85% absolute WER reduction using the standard HMM-GMM architecture in LVCSR task.