Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Asynchronous Convergence in Multi-Task Learning via Knowledge Distillation from Converged Tasks

Multi-task learning (MTL) aims to solve multiple tasks jointly by sharing a base representation among them. This can lead to more efficient learning and better generalization, as compared to learning each task individually. However, one issue that often arises in MTL is the convergence speed between tasks varies due to differences in task difficulty, so it can be a challenge to simultaneously achieve the best performance on all tasks with a single model checkpoint. Various techniques have been proposed to address discrepancies in task convergence rate, including weighting the per-task losses and modifying task gradients. In this work, we propose a novel approach that avoids the problem of requiring all tasks to converge at the same rate, but rather allows for “asynchronous” convergence among the tasks where each task can converge on its own schedule. As our main contribution, we monitor per-task validation metrics and switch to a knowledge distillation loss once a task has converged instead of continuing to train on the true labels. This prevents the model from overfitting on converged tasks while it learns the remaining tasks. We evaluate the proposed method in two 5-task MTL setups consisting of internal e-commerce datasets. The results show that our method consistently outperforms existing loss weighting and gradient balancing approaches, achieving average improvements of 0.9% and 1.5% over the best performing baseline model in the two setups, respectively.
repre-Concavities count for less in symmetry perception

We investigated the relative importance of convexities (protrusions) and concavities (indentations) for the perception of shape. On the one hand, it has been suggested that convexities determine the shape of an object, whereas concavities merely act as “perceptual glue” between the convexities. On the other hand, it has been argued that concavities are more salient than convexities. We show that participants find it easier to detect asym-metry in a 2-D silhouette when there is a mismatch between the shapes of convexities on either side of the axis of symmetry than when there is a mismatch between the shapes of concavities. This is the case even when the concavities are closest to the axis of symmetry, and despite the usual bias toward this axis in symmetry perception. We suggest that the actual shape of concavities is less important in symmetry perception, because the main role of concavities is to act as part boundaries in the representation of the shape of objects.
Galactomutarotase (GALM) and Other Galactose-Related Genes Are Rapidly Induced by Retinoic Acid in Human Myeloid Cells †

Aldose-1-epimerase (mutarotase) catalyzes the interconversion of α and β hexoses, which is essential for normal carbohydrate metabolism and the production of complex oligosaccharides. Galactose mutarotase (GALM) has been well characterized at the protein level but information is lacking on the regulation of GALM gene expression. We report herein that all- trans -retinoic acid (RA), an active metabolite of vitamin A that is known to induce myeloid lineage cell differentiation into macrophage-like cells, induces a rapid and robust regulation of GALM mRNA expression in human myeloid cells. All- trans -RA at a physiological concentration (20 nM), or Am580, a ligand selective for the nuclear retinoid receptor RAR α , increased GALM mRNA in THP-1 cells, with significantly increased expression in 2 h, increasing further to an ~8-fold elevation after 6–40 h ( P < 0.005). In contrast, tumor necrosis factor- α did not increase GALM mRNA expression, although it is capable of inducing cell differentiation. RA also increased GALM mRNA in U937 and HL-60 cells. The increase in GALM mRNA by RA was blocked by pretreating THP-1 cells with actinomycin D, but not by cycloheximide. GALM protein and mutarotase activity were also increased time dependently in RA-treated THP-1 cells. In addition to GALM, several other genes in the biosynthetic pathway of galactosyl-containing complex oligosaccharides were more highly expressed in RA-treated THP-1 cells, including B4GALT5, ST3GAL3, ST6GALNAC5, and GALNAC4S-6ST. Thus, the results of this study identify RA as a significant regulator of GALM and other galactose-related genes in myeloid-monocytic cells, which could affect energy utilization, synthesis of cell-surface glycoproteins or glycolipids involved in cell motility, adhesion, and/or functional properties. mechanistic of the activity of L. by crystallographic structural studies of both L. lactis and human sources the in a microarray data were to a stringent analysis, in the monocytic cell line of GeneCards no previously reported
Human T-Lymphotropic Virus Types 1 and 2 Are Rare Among Persons who inject drugs in Eastern Europe

Background— In Europe, human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) type 2 mainly occurs among persons who inject drugs (PWID) with prevalence up to 15% and HTLV-1 among general population with prevalence less than 1%. However, there is no data regarding the prevalence of HTLV-1 or HTLV-2 in Eastern European PWID population where HIV prevalence is relatively high. We aimed to determine the prevalence and genotypes of HTLV-1/HTLV-2 among PWID and healthy volunteers in Estonia. Methods— The study included 345 PWID and 138 healthy volunteers. The presence of HTLV-1/HTLV-2 was determined by nested PCR; positive and negative controls were used in every PCR run. Results— The analysed PWID resembled the PWID of HIV epidemic in Estonia: mainly male (79%) with median age of 30 years (interquartile range [IQR] 25–34), and prolonged duration of intravenous drug usage (11 years; IQR 7–14). The prevalence exposure to blood-borne viral infections was high – 50% were HIV positive, 88% hepatitis C positive, 67% hepatitis B positive. Of PWID, 64% reported receptive needle sharing in the past and 18% at least once a month during last six months. None of the PWID carried HTLV-1 but there was a case of HTLV-2 (prevalence 0.3 %; 95% CI 0.1–1.6). All healthy volunteers were HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 PCR negative. Conclusion— This is the first study investigating the prevalence of HTLV-1/HTLV-2 among high risk population and healthy volunteers in Eastern European region. Our results suggest that despite other widely spread blood-borne infections (e.g. HIV, HBV, HCV) HTLV-1 and HTLV-2 are rare among PWID in Estonia.
RESPONSE-REINFORCER DEPENDENCE AND INDEPENDENCE IN MULTIPLE AND MIXED SCHEDULES

Albino rats were conditioned to lever press during two-component multiple and mixed schedules in which response-dependent and response-independent reinforcers occurred in the different comnponents. Relative response rates in the components associated with response-dependent reinforcers were higher (a) when different visual and auditory stimuli were associated with the two components and (b) when mixed schedule components were long in duration. These results illustrate the contribution of the response-reinforcer relation to stimulus control and schedule control of behavior. They also suggest that under some conditions, reinforcers need not be consistently associated with a particular response to ensure that the response is maintained at a relatively high rate.
The Galois-module structure of the space of holomorphic differentials of a curve.

If p | n, then the structure of Ωχ is in general more complicated; in fact, Valentini [20] showed that if nG : X — > Υ = X/G is unramified, then the (analogue of the) Chevalley-Weil theorem holds if and only if G is p-nilpotent) and the p-Sylow subgroups Gp of G are cyclic. (This generalized and sharpened an earlier result of Tamagawa [19].) By the work of Valentini and Madan, the structure of Ωχ is "known" in the following two cases):
Anticancer actions of natural and synthetic vitamin E forms: RRR- α -tocopherol blocks the anticancer actions of γ -tocopherol

Two naturally occurring dietary sources of vitamin E [i.e. RRR- α -tocopherol ( α T), and RRR- γ tocopherol ( γ T)], the manufactured synthetic form of vitamin E, all-racemic - α -tocopherol ( all-rac α T), as well as, a potent antitumor analog of vitamin E, RRR- α -tocopherol ether-linked acetic acid analog ( α -TEA) were assessed for anticancer actions. Data showed that γ T, all-rac - α T and α -TEA but not α T or α T + γ T significantly inhibited tumor burden of human MDA-MB-231 cells in nude mice. Immunohistochemical analyses of tumor tissue showed that all-rac - α T and α -TEA increased apoptosis and decreased proliferation in tumor cells while γ T was associated with increased tumor cell apoptosis only. In vitro data showed α -TEA and γ T but not all-rac - α T or α T to inhibit colony formation and induce apoptosis. Anticancer actions of α -TEA and γ T involved DR5 protein upregulation, Survivin protein downregulation and PARP cleavage all of which were blocked by co-treatment with α T. In summary, both γ T and α -TEA exhibited promising anticancer properties in vivo and in vitro , whereas all-rac - α T exhibited promising anticancer properties in vivo only. Importantly, α T not only failed to exhibit anticancer properties but it reduced anticancer actions of γ T in vivo and γ T and α -TEA in vitro .
Lessons in women’s health: body image and pulmonary disease

Women’s health refers to a multidisciplinary approach to the screening, diagnosis and management of conditions that have greater or different risks for women than for men or that are more prevalent among women. This approach recognizes that there are both biomedical and psychosocial components to health and that care for women should be based on research that takes into consideration gender differences, includes women as subjects and is designed to answer questions of relevance to women. The awareness that women’s health is much broader than reproductive health has been evolving over the past 10 years. For example, we now recognize that the risk factors, diagnostic tests and therapies for coronary artery disease may be different for women and men, and we are increasingly aware of the osteoporosis risks related to many therapies. In pulmonary medicine we are only beginning to apply the concepts of women’s health, and, not surprisingly, we are finding new and important information about disease etiology, epidemiology and management. An increasingly recognized determinant of health for women is body image. We are all aware of the increasing incidence of conditions such as anorexia and bulimia. However, body image plays a much broader role in health and, although it is not yet widely recognized, in pulmonary medicine. Smoking and related diseases, pulmonary hypertension secondary to anorexic agents and obstructive sleep apnea are all significant pulmonary conditions in which body image plays a role. These conditions in turn highlight many of the issues and opportunities inherent in developing a women’s health focus in pulmonary medicine.
Haploidentical Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation as Platform for Post-transplant Cellular Therapy

Haploidentical transplantation can extend the opportunity for transplantation to almost all patients who lack an HLA-matched donor. Advances in the field of haploidentical transplantation have led to a marked decrease in treatment-related mortality, allowing investigators to focus on developing rationale pre- and peri-remission therapies aimed at preventing disease relapse post-transplant. Due to widespread availability, low treatment-related mortality and cost, haploidentical donors may become the preferred “alternative” donors for allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. One of the major advantages of using a related donor is the possibility to collect or generate additional cellular products from the same immediate available donor, which will not be rejected. Infusion of these cells in the peri-transplant period, derived from the same immune system, is opening the possibility to markedly enhance the anti-tumor effects of the graft and hasten immunologic reconstitution post-transplant. with primary induction failure large B cell lymphoma who never achieved remission after multiple different courses of chemotherapy. CAR T cells are administered 6–12 weeks following stem cell infusion. CAR T cells were detected in all patients 2–4 weeks after the infusion. All patients received MMF until day+90 and tacrolimus until 6 months post-transplant. Overall 3 of 4 patients remain in remission at last follow-up. These results are very promising and show that allogeneic CAR T cell therapy can be safely administered early post-HaploSCT without significant GVHD in the presence of non-steroid based immunosuppression.
Preventable Feto-infant Mortality Application of a Conceptual Framework for Perinatal Health Surveillance to Manitoba Perinatal Outcomes

Background: Perinatal health surveillance systems have lacked conceptual frameworks to translate data into information for policy and program planning. This paper demonstrates the application of a conceptual framework in the analysis of feto-infant mortality data in the province of Manitoba. Methods: Fetal and infant deaths were categorized according to a two-dimensional framework of birthweight and age-at-death, and grouped into four broad categories of contributors to perinatal health: Maternal Health, Maternal Care, Newborn Care, and Infant Care. Birth Weight Proportionate Mortality Rates (BWPMR) were calculated for each of the four categories, and preventable “excess” feto-infant mortality was estimated through comparisons to a benchmark sub-population. Results: Between 1985 and 1998, feto-infant mortality declined from 12.3 to 9.8 deaths per 1000 births in Manitoba. Much of this decline occurred in the Newborn Care category; there were only slight declines in deaths attributed to Maternal Health and Infant Care factors. Comparison of the feto-infant mortality rate to the benchmark rate revealed an excess of 3.46 deaths per 1000 births, an “opportunity gap” of 33%. Substantial regional variations in feto-infant mortality rates were observed. Summary: Application of this conceptual framework provided useful information to aid in policy and program planning. As the greatest excess feto-infant mortality was observed in the Maternal Health and Infant Care categories, attention to the broader determinants of health which influence these categories will be required.
a 1 -, a 2 - and b -adrenoceptors in the urinary bladder, urethra and prostate

1 We have systematically reviewed the presence, functional responses and regulation of a 1 -, a 2 - and b -adrenoceptors in the bladder, urethra and prostate, with special emphasis on human tissues and receptor subtypes. 2 a 1 -Adrenoceptors are only poorly expressed and play a limited functional role in the detrusor. a 1 -Adrenoceptors, particularly their a 1A -subtype, show a more pronounced expression and promote contraction of the bladder neck, urethra and prostate to enhance bladder outlet resistance, particularly in elderly men with enlarged prostates. a 1 -Adrenoceptor agonists are important in the treatment of symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, but their beneficial effects may involve receptors within and outside the prostate. 3 a 2 -Adrenoceptors, mainly their a 2A -subtype, are expressed in bladder, urethra and prostate. They mediate pre-junctional inhibition of neurotransmitter release and also a weak contractile effect in the urethra of some species, but not humans. Their overall post-junctional function in the lower urinary tract remains largely unclear. b -Adrenoceptors urethra The available tools have limited the unequivocal identification of receptor subtypes at the protein and functional levels, but it appears that the b 3 - and b 2 -subtypes are important in the human bladder and urethra, respectively. b 3 -Adrenoceptor agonists are promising drug candidates for the treatment of the overactive bladder. 5 We propose that the overall function of adrenoceptors in the lower urinary tract is to promote urinary continence. Further elucidation of the functional roles of their subtypes will help a better understanding of voiding dysfunction and its treatment. British Journal of Pharmacology (2006) 147, S88–S119. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp. 0706619
Nicotine-induced up regulation of α 4 β 2 neuronal nicotinic receptors is mediated by the PKC-dependent phosphorylation of α 4 subunits

Sustained exposure to nicotine is well known to increase the cell surface density of α 4 β 2* neuronal nicotinic receptors both in vivo and in vitro , but the cellular mechanisms mediating this effect are equivocal. Using a pharmacological approach to investigate the effects of nicotine on receptor subunit expression and phosphorylation in SH-EP1 cells expressing human α 4 and β 2 nicotinic receptor subunits, we have demonstrated that incubation with nicotine for 24 hours increased the expression of immature and mature forms of both α 4 and β 2 subunits in a concentration-dependent manner, and that inhibition of PKC, but not PKA inhibited the nicotine-induced increased expression of subunits. Incubation of cells with nicotine for 24 hours also increased the phosphorylation of immature forms of α 4 subunits similar to that induced by activation of either PKC or PKA. When cells were preincubated with nicotine, the PKC-mediated increased phosphorylation was inhibited; the PKA-mediated phosphorylation was unaltered. The phosphopeptide maps for immature α 4 subunits following nicotine exposure or PKC activation were identical, and phosphoamino acid analyses indicated phosphorylation on serine residues only. Results indicate that nicotine-induced up regulation of α 4 β 2 neuronal nicotinic receptors involves a PKC-dependent mechanism and likely reflects the ability of nicotine to activate PKC, leading to the phosphorylation of immature α 4 subunits, promoting subunit assembly and receptor maturation. Because up regulation of these receptors has been implicated to mediate tolerance, locomotor sensitization and addiction to nicotine, results identify a potential new target for modulating the effects of nicotine on the brain. subunit results phosphothreonine (T), and phosphotyrosine (Y). Samples containing equal amounts of radioactivity were spotted onto TLC plates and were subjected to electrophoresis in the horizontal direction followed by the vertical dimension. The migration of the standards was visualized with ninhydrin. The phosphorylation of S, T, or Y was identified based on co-migration of the 32 P-labeled residues with stained phosphoamino acid standards.
Examining the Unique Inﬂ uence of Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Drinking Perceptions on Alcohol Consumption Among College Students*

Objective: Interventions for college student drinking often incorporate inter personal factors such as descriptive and/or injunctive norms to correct misperceptions about campus drinking (e.g., BASICS [Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention for College Students] and social-norms campaigns). Some interventions also focus on intra- personal factors of alcohol consumption, which can be considered as one’s own perception of drinking, one’s attitude toward drinking, and one’s intended outcome related to drinking. The current study sought to extend previous work by examining relationships between both inter- and intrapersonal perceptions of drinking and reported drinking behavior. Method: College students ( N = 303) completed questionnaires assessing drinking behaviors, perceptions of other students’ attitudes toward drinking (i.e., injunctive norms), their perception of the quantity and frequency of student/friend drinking (i.e., descriptive norms), and their attitudes and perceptions toward their own alcohol consumption (i.e., intrapersonal factors). Results: Multiple regressions were used to analyze the unique inﬂ uence between inter- and intrapersonal drinking perceptions and drinking behavior. Conclusions: Among the interpersonal perceptions of drinking, only closest friend’s drinking signiﬁ cantly predicted alcohol consumption, whereas all three intrapersonal factors signiﬁ cantly predicted alcohol consumption. Suggestions for enhancing college student drinking interventions are discussed. ( J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs 70: 178-185, 2009)
Regulation of Lipid and Glucose Metabolism by Phosphatidylcholine Transfer Protein

Phosphatidylcholine transfer protein (PC-TP, a.k.a. StARD2) binds phosphatidylcholines and catalyzes their intermembrane transfer and exchange in vitro . The structure of PC-TP comprises a hydrophobic pocket and a well-defined head-group binding site, and its gene expression is regulated by peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α . Recent studies have revealed key regulatory roles for PC-TP in lipid and glucose metabolism. Notably, Pctp − / − mice are sensitized to insulin action and exhibit more efficient brown fat-mediated thermogenesis. PC-TP appears to limit access of fatty acids to mitochondria by stimulating the activity of thioesterase superfamily member 2, a newly characterized long-chain fatty acyl-CoA thioesterase. Because PC-TP discriminates among phosphatidylcholines within lipid bilayers, it may function as a sensor that links metabolic regulation to membrane composition.
Emerging concepts on T FH cell dynamics in HIV infection

Inducing cross-reactive broadly neutralizing antibody (bNAb) responses to HIV through vaccination remains an insurmountable challenge. T follicular helper cells (T FH ) are fundamental for the development of antigen-specific antibody responses and therefore critical for anti-HIV vaccine design. Here we review recent studies supporting an intricate involvement of T FH in HIV pathogenesis and bNAb development in HIV infection. We also examine emerging data suggesting that T FH responses may be traceable in peripheral blood, and discuss the implications of these findings in the context of vaccine design and future research in T FH immunobiology. T FH cells instruct GC B cells to phosphorylate and express Activation-induced Deaminase (AID) that mediates SHM, CSR, memory cell and long-lived plasma cell formation.
Conformation of Dimeric ApoA-I Milano on Recombinant Lipoprotein Particles

Apolipoprotein A-I Milano (apoA-I Milano ) is a naturally occurring human mutation of wild type apoliprotein A-I (apoA-I WT ) having cystine substituted for arginine 173 . Two molecules of apo-I WT form discs with phospholipid having a defined relationship between the apoA-I WT molecules. ApoA-I Milano forms cystine homodimers that would not allow the protein to adopt the conformation reported for apoA-I WT . The conformational constraints for dimeric apoA-I Milano recombinant high density lipoprotein (rHDL) discs made with phospholipid were deduced from a combination of chemical cross-linking and mass spectrometry. Lysine-selective homo-bifunctional cross-linkers were reacted with homogeneous rHDL having diameters of 78Å and 125Å. After reduction, cross-linked apoA-I Milano was separated from monomeric apoprotein by gel electrophoresis then subjected to in-gel trypsin digest. Cross-linked peptides were confirmed by MS/MS sequencing. The cross-links provided distance constraints that were used to refine models of lipid-bound dimeric apoA-I Milano . These studies suggest that a single dimeric apoA-I Milano on 78Å diameter rHDL girdles the edge of a phospholipid disc assuming a “belt” conformation similar to the “belt” region of apoA-I HDL, high density lipoprotein; LC, liquid chromatography; MS/MS, tandem mass spectrometry; nHDL, nascent HDL; POPC, 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphotidylcholine; QTOF-MS, quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometer; rHDL, recombinant HDL; SANS, small-angle neutron scattering; SAXS, small-angle X-ray scattering; wild-type apoA-I, apoA-IWT.